800!!008

Bit of a milestone here on PhilosFX. 

Can you guess what it is?

You are looking at the 800th post published on this blog. 

The first of 800 posts here on PhilosFX was published 1,645 days ago. Since then, new posts have been published at the rate of one every other day, garnering an average of 200 views each (range is 0 to 25,250) for a total of 164,000 views, or about 100 views per day (range is 0 to 400). 

I have 75 posts in draft right now and an seemingly endless supply of topics to write about. Thanks for reading along and encouraging me with comments and suggestions, 

On to 1000! 

Reasoning with Atheists

I have met many people who call themselves atheists. It's sort of an occupational hazard, as I am a skeptic by trade. 

When someone asks me, "How can you believe in God?" they usually mean, "How can you believe that there is an old man with a long, flowing beard and a big white robe sitting on the throne in heaven, deciding which child to save and which city to destroy?" I usually counter, "How can you disbelieve in God?" Before the inquirer assumes I also believe the Heavenly Father prefers Diet Coke, I hasten to add, "I am not sure what God looks like, but that is a separate question from whether there is an Ultimate." Said another way, I do not rely on anthropomorphic depictions of the deity to defend my faith.

It's a whole lot easier to believe in God than to disbelieve. God can easily be something far beyond our human capacity to comprehend. On what basis of fact can any thinking person possibly know that God does not and can not possibly exist? 

To be an atheist, one must believe without proof that there is no God. 

(H/TMichelle)

Was Amy Purdy's Super Bowl XLIX Toyota Ad "Inspiration Porn"?

Amy Purdy

Salon ran a piece decrying the use of disabled people doing normal things to motivate able-bodied people to be more active, or live more fully, or, as the case may be, buy a new Toyota. Catch the ad HERE and read the Salon article HERE

I work with and for many combat-wounded warriors. I do not advocate exploiting the wounded or disabled for commercial gain. So if that is what is meant by the term "inspiration porn," then I am sympathetic to the concerns raised here. 

That said, wounded warriors do appreciate the positive examples of people like Aimee Mullins and Amy Purdy. Wounded warriors have responded positively to military adaptive sports programs, and we have even held Olympic-style games to showcase the resilience and determination of these people who are fighting back to reach a new normal. 

Still, the battle for normalcy includes not just personal struggles, but the struggles of reintegration into society. I do not want inspiration porn. I do not want exploitation or objectification. But I damn sure do want more people to see wounded warriors and other differently-abled people for who they are, not who they were, for what they can do, not what they cannot do, and for what they have, not what they lost. 

(H/T to James.)

The Grape American Road Trip Wine Dinner

The Grape American Road Trip

Ovvio Osteria

Tuesday, January 27, 2015 from 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm

2727 Merrilee Drive Fairfax, VA 22031

The Mosaic District

Tuesday, January 27, 2015
6:30pm Reception 7:00pm Dinner

Cozy up with Ovvio in welcoming Andrew Stover of Siema Wines
in our first wine dinner of 2015, featuring 

wines from emerging American wine regions and 

delicious paired delicacies from the creative mind of Chef Richard Ketzler

Reception

Sliders

McPherson Cellars Sparkling Wine, Lubbuck, Texas

The mushroom sliders were outstanding and of the two I had a clear preference for them. The wine, made from 87% riesling and 13% vermentino grapes, reminded me of prosecco and was a nice complement. 

First

Saffron Poached New York State Apple, Baby Arugula, Blood Orange Vinaigrette

Shindig Vidal Blanc, Finger Lakes, New York

Shindig is a delicious wine. I liked the presentation of the salad more than the taste.

Second

Olive Oil Poached Blue Fish, Pine Nut Pesto, Pickled Cabbage

Bedell 'Taste White' Sauvignon Blanc/Albarino, North Fork of Long Island, New York

I liked the label of this wine more than the wine itself. I really enjoyed the Chef's explanation of this dish. He poached the Blue Fish in olive oil to remove some of the gamey flavors, and then added the cabbage to restore some crunch. 

Third

Dry Rubbed Leg of Lamb, Stone Ground Grits, Green Chili Puree, Tequila Agave Drizzle

Arizona Stronghold 'Mangus' Sangiovese/Cabernet/Merlot Blend, Cochise County, Arizona

This was my favorite dish and my favorite food and wine combination, with the dessert combination a close second. The wine is a full-bodied complement to the flavorful lamb. I thought the lamb was done to perfection, but what really blew my taste buds away was the grits under the lamb. The green chili puree really tied the flavors together. Fantastic!  

Fourth

Smoked Venison Ravioli, Mushroom Puree, Red Pepper Coulis

Stone Hill Estate Norton, Hermann, Missouri

I enjoyed the story about this wine. The Norton grape is one which was developed in Richmond Virginia. German immigrants settled Hermann, Missouri in the mid-1800's and established many breweries and vineyards in the familiar-looking hills. Hermann is still an important center of German culture and tradition.    

Fifth

Queso Flan, Orange Pound Cake, Blackberry Compote

Duchman Family Orange Muscat, High Plains, Texas

I had never been served flan on pound cake before, but I really enjoyed this and will seek it out again. The orange zest in the pound cake and the orange blossoms in the sweet muscat wine were spectacular together.

 

I had a great time at this event. I recommend the venue wholeheartedly. The Chef did a fantastic job with the food menu. Everything I tasted was creative and distinctive. For the most part, the wine pairings were successful and the Sommelier explained them with clarity and panache.

The heart is like...

Banksy's "Balloon Girl"

The heart is like a balloon. 

Its lightness comes 

from being full. 

--Mark Nepo

To All My Fellow Scotsmen, Happy Rabbie Burns Day!

Robert Burns, born 25 January 1759

Rabbie Burns Day falls on a Sunday this year, so I thought it apropos to prepare by participating in a special Saturday Scots Ale tasting event at UnWined. Six beers were on offer, including one on draft from their brand new 6-tap growler filling station. I arrived late and consequently missed out on the Innis & Gunn which sold out quickly owing to its incredible awesomeness rather than a lack of foresight on the organizers' behalf. They'll get more! 

The quintessential Scots Ale

Brings new meaning to the word, viscosity

Pointing to Arbroath on the east coast of Scotland

An American take on the style with more smoke and hops--my favorite of the mix

Offerings included Founders Dirty Bastard on tap at the growler filling station

Finished the set with an orange-spiced ginger beer

I also enjoyed reading "The Cotter's Saturday Night" over dinner. I did not find a haggis, but I did enjoy a dish that included sausage of questionable provenance and decided to call it good. The poem I picked is pasted below for your convenience! I especially liked the line that an honest man's the noblest work of God.

I suppose we are all a wee bit Scottish on Rabbie Burns Day. (English friends may take mild exception.) So to all my fellow smart, arrogant, chivalrous, brilliant, radical Scotsmen, here's mud in your eye! Now, pour yourself a wee dram of The Balvenie single malt Scotch and revel in the selected poem! [Note: a Cotter is poor laborer who lives in his landlord's cottage.]

The Cotter's Saturday Night

My lov'd, much honour'd, much respected friend!
No mercenary bard his homage pays;
With honest pride, I scorn each selfish end,
My dearest meed, a friend's esteem and praise:
To you I sing, in simple Scottish lays,
The lowly train in life's sequester'd scene;
The native feelings strong, the guileless ways;
What Aiken in a cottage would have been;
Ah! tho his worth unknown, far happier there I ween!

November chill blaws loud wi angry sugh;
The short'ning winter-day is near a close;
The miry beasts retreating frae the pleugh;
The black'ning trains o craws to their repose:
The toil-worn Cotter frae his labor goes,
This night his weekly moil is at an end,
Collects his spades, his mattocks, and his hoes,
Hoping the morn in ease and rest to spend,
And weary, o'er the moor, his course does hameward bend.

At length his lonely cot appears in view,
Beneath the shelter of an aged tree;
Th' expectant wee-things, toddlin, stacher through
To meet their dad, wi flichterin noise and glee.
His wee bit ingle, blinkin bonilie,
His clean hearth-stane, his thrifty wifie's smile,
The lisping infant, prattling on his knee,
Does a' his weary kiaugh and care beguile,
An makes him quite forget his labor and his toil.

Belyve, the elder bairns come drapping in,
At service out, amang the farmers roun;
Some ca' the pleugh, some herd, some tentie rin
A cannie errand to a neebor town:
Their eldest hope, their Jenny, woman grown,
In youthfu bloom, love sparkling in her e'e,
Comes hame; perhaps, to show a braw new gown,
Or deposits her sair-won penny-fee,
To help her parents dear, if they in hardship be.

With joy unfeign'd, brothers and sisters meet,
And each for other's welfare kindly spiers:
The social hours, swift-wing'd, unnotic'd fleet;
Each tells the uncos that he sees or hears.
The parents partial eye their hopeful years;
Anticipation forward points the view;
The mother, wi her needle and her sheers
Gars auld claes look amaist as weel's the new;
The father mixes a' wi admonition due.

Their master's and their mistress's command,
The younkers a' are warned to obey;
And mind their labors wi an eydent hand,
And ne'er tho out of sight, to jauk or play;
'And O! be sure to fear the Lord alway,
And mind your duty, duly, morn and night;
Lest in temptation's path ye gang astray,
Implore His counsel and assisting might:
They never sought in vain that sought the Lord aright.'

But hark! a rap comes gently to the door;
Jenny, wha kens the meaning o the same;
Tells how a neebor lad came o'er the moor,
To do some errands, and convoy her hame.
The wily mother sees the conscious flame
Sparkle in Jenny's e'e, and flush her cheek;
With heart-struck anxious care, inquires his name,
While Jenny hafflins is afraid to speak;
Weel-pleas'd the mother hears, it's nae wild, worthless rake.

Wi kindly welcome, Jenny brings him ben;
A strappin youth, he takes the mother's eye;
Blythe Jenny sees the visit's no ill taen;
The father cracks of horses, pleughs, and kye.
The youngster's artless heart o'erflows wi joy,
But blate an laithfu, scarce can weel behave;
The mother, wi a woman's wiles, can spy
What makes the youth sae bashful and sae grave;
Weel-pleas'd to think her bairn's respected like the lave.

O happy love! where love like this is found:
O heart-felt raptures! bliss beyond compare!
I've paced much this weary, mortal round,
And sage experience bids me this declare,
'If Heaven a draught of heavenly pleasure spare,
One cordial in this melancholy vale,
'Tis when a youthful, loving, modest pair
In other's arms, breathe out the tender tale,
Beneath the milk-white thorn that scents the ev'ning gale.'

Is there, in human form, that bears a heart,
A wretch! a villain! lost to love and truth!
That can, with studied, sly, ensnaring art,
Betray sweet Jenny's unsuspecting youth?
Curse on his perjur'd arts! dissembling, smooth!
Are honor, virtue, conscience, all exil'd?
Is there no pity, no relenting ruth,
Points to the parents fondling o'er their child?
Then paints the ruin'd maid, and their distraction wild?

But now the supper crowns their simple board,
The halesome parritch, chief o Scotia's food;
The soupe their only hawkie does afford,
That, 'yont the hallan snugly chows her cood:
The dame brings forth, in complimental mood,
To grace the lad, her weel-hain'd kebbuck, fell;
And aft he's prest, and aft he ca's it guid:
The frugal wifie, garrulous, will tell,
How 'twas a towmond auld, sin lint was i' the bell.

The chearfu supper done, wi serious face,
They, round the ingle, form a circle wide;
The sire turns o'er, wi patriarchal grace,
The big ha'-Bible, ance his father's pride.
His bonnet rev'rently is laid aside,
His lyart haffets wearing thin and bare;
Those strains that once did sweet in Zion glide,
He wales a portion with judicious care;
And 'Let us worship God!' he says with solemn air.

They chant their artless notes in simple guise,
They tune their hearts, by far the noblest aim;
Perhaps Dundee's wild-warbling measures rise,
Or plaintive Martyrs, worthy of the name;
Or noble Elgin beets the heavenward flame,
The sweetest far of Scotia's holy lays:
Compar'd with these, Italian trills are tame;
The tickl'd ears no heart-felt raptures raise;
Nae unison hae they, with our Creator's praise.

The priest-like father reads the sacred page,
How Abram was the friend of God on high;
Or, Moses bade eternal warfare wage
With Amalek's ungracious progeny;
Or, how the royal Bard did groaning lie
Beneath the stroke of Heaven's avenging ire;
Or Job's pathetic plaint, and wailing cry;
Or rapt Isaiah's wild, seraphic fire;
Or other holy Seers that tune the sacred lyre.

Perhaps the Christian volume is the theme:
How guiltless blood for guilty man was shed;
How He, who bore in Heaven the second name,
Had not on earth whereon to lay His head;
How His first followers and servants sped;
The precepts sage they wrote to many a land:
How he, who lone in Patmos banished,
Saw in the sun a mighty angel stand,
And heard great Bab'lon's doom pronounc'd by Heaven's command.

Then kneeling down to Heaven's Eternal King,
The saint, the father, and the husband prays:
Hope 'springs exulting on triumphant wing.'
That thus they all shall meet in future days,
There, ever bask in uncreated rays,
No more to sigh or shed the bitter tear,
Together hymning their Creator's praise,
In such society, yet still more dear;
While circling Time moves round in an eternal sphere.

Compar'd with this, how poor Religion's pride,
In all the pomp of method, and of art;
When men display to congregations wide
Devotion's ev'ry grace, except the heart,
The Power, incens'd, the pageant will desert,
The pompous strain, the sacerdotal stole;
But haply, in some cottage far apart,
May hear, well-pleas'd, the language of the soul;
And in His Book of Life the inmates poor enroll.

Then homeward all take off their sev'ral way,
The youngling cottagers retire to rest:
The parent-pair their secret homage pay,
And proffer up to Heaven the warm request,
That he who stills the raven's clam'rous nest,
And decks the lily fair in flow'ry pride,
Would, in the way His wisdom sees the best,
For them and for their little ones provide;
But, chiefly, in their hearts with Grace Divine preside.

From scenes like these, old Scotia's grandeur springs
That makes her lov'd at home, rever'd abroad:
Princes and lords are but the breath of kings,
'An honest man's the noblest work of God';
And certes, in fair Virtue's heavenly road,
The cottage leaves the palace far behind;
What is a lordling's pomp? a cumbrous load,
Disguising oft the wretch of human kind,
Studied in arts of Hell, in wickedness refin'd!

O Scotia! my dear, my native soil!
For whom my warmest wish to Heaven is sent!
Long may thy hardy sons of rustic toil
Be blest with health, and peace, and sweet content!
And O! may Heaven their simple lives prevent
From Luxury's contagion, weak and vile!
Then, howe'er crowns and coronets be rent,
A virtuous populace may rise the while,
And stand a wall of fire around their much-lov'd Isle.

O Thou! who pour'd the patriotic tide,
That stream'd thro Wallace's undaunted heart,
Who dar'd to, nobly, stem tyrannic pride,
Or nobly die, the second glorious part:
[The patriot's God, peculiarly Thou art,
His friend, inspirer, guardian, and reward!]
O never, never Scotia's realm desert;
But still the patriot, and the patriot-bard
In bright succession raise, her ornament and guard!

One of my previous Odes to Bard of Ayrshire is available HERE. Thanks for reading. Comments are always welcome. How did you celebrate Robert Burns, Scottish heritage, or Scottish food and drink this year? 

The First Day of Christmas? Part IV

Welcome to Part IV, the final installment in the series about the First Day of Christmas.

What, Christmas on January 11th, you say? I deliberately waited until the third Sunday after Christmas to post this final installment inspired by the song, Twelve Days of Christmas. This series of posts has been my stab at a definitive answer to these four perennial questions:

What is the first day of Christmas? December 26

What do we mean by the Christmas Season? Let's call it Dec 6 through January 6

Thinking about the song and all the gifts on each of those days, how many presents arrive in all? A whopping 364! 

And speaking of gifts, is there any significance behind the seemingly random gift choices? 

We tackled the third question in Part III of the series. Missed it? Get caught up HERE.

And now, 

wrapping things up 

with Part IV:

You know the famous song and have sung (or heard it sung) it many times at Christmas.

On the twelfth day of Christmas

my true love gave to me:

Twelve Drummers Drumming

Eleven Pipers Piping

Ten Lords a-Leaping

Nine Ladies Dancing

Eight Maids a-Milking

Seven Swans a-Swimming

Six Geese a-Laying

Five Golden Rings

Four Calling Birds

Three French Hens

Two Turtle Doves and

a Partridge in a Pear Tree

Read more: HERE

Where did all these wacky gift ideas come from? I mean, if I wanted to demonstrate my true love in the same way, my lady would need a barn for all the cows, swans, geese, birds, hens, doves, and partridges. (Some sources state that the five rings are not jewelry but ring-necked birds, such as the Ring-necked Pheasant. Great--even more birds!) Not to mention a very large house and food budget for all the drummers, pipers, lords, ladies, and maids. Why not sweaters, pajamas, and music CDs?

Perhaps you have heard the popular explanation that the gifts are actually part of a shadow catechism--that parents used the song to teach their children about the Bible during a time of religious persecution. A common version of that story looks like this:

The songs gifts are hidden meanings to the teachings of the faith. The "true love" mentioned in the song doesn't refer to an earthly suitor, it refers to God Himself. The "me" who receives the presents refers to every baptized person.
The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments
3 French Hens = Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues
4 Calling Birds = the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5 Golden Rings = The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which gives the history of man's fall from grace.
6 Geese A-laying = the six days of creation
7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments
8 Maids A-milking = the eight beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords A-leaping = the ten commandments
11 Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful apostles
12 Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed

We do not know the author of the interpretation, nor do we know if the story comes before the lyric or after. Read more HERE
There may be a bit of truth to the idea that this song is a shadow catechism. Jews, Masons, slaves and spies have all devised ways of sending hidden messages in plain sight of persecutors. Christians have not been persecuted in Europe since the end of the Roman Empire. There were no practical reasons for Christians to use a shadow catechism after the Edict of Milan in 313. That said, the idea of linking each of the twelve gifts to the Bible has a precedent.

The song as we know it today appeared in its earliest known printed version in the 1780 children's book Mirth Without Mischief. The song is apparently much older than this printed version, but we do not currently know how much older. What we do know is that the structure of the song is similar to one called A New Dial.

Again, from Snopes

It is possible that "The Twelve Days of Christmas" has been confused with (or is a transformation of) a song called "A New Dial" (also known as "In Those Twelve Days"), which dates to at least 1625 and assigns religious meanings to each of the twelve days of Christmas (but not for the purposes of teaching a catechism).

Snopes denies that the lyrics to A New Dial were intended to teach a catechism, but that is a matter of opinion, not fact. I think it's entirely possible that A New Dial was indeed used to teach the Bible. Furthermore, it is remotely possible that the structure of twelve things recited in a question-and-answer format goes all the way back to a time when Christians were persecuted. We simply don't know.

Here is a snippet of A New Dial. It sounds like a catechism to me.

What are they that are but one?
We have one God alone
In heaven above sits on His throne.


What are they which are but two?
Two testaments, the old and new,
We do acknowledge to be true.


What are they which are but three?
Three persons in the Trinity
Which make one God in unity.

... and so on, through the number twelve. Read more HERE or in the Table below. 

My side-by-side comparison of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" with its apparent predecessor, "A New Dial" reveals some similarities and some differences. Note that half (5 of 12) of the items are the same (=) and the other half (7 of 12) are different (X). 

"A New Dial" (also known as "In Those Twelve Days"), which dates to at least 1625 and assigns religious meanings to each of the twelve days of Christmas.		"The Twelve Days of Christmas" was presented in its earliest known printed version in the 1780 children's book, Mirth Without Mischief. It seems similar to the much older verse.
What are they that are but one?		The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
We have one God alone	x
In heaven above sits on His throne.
What are they which are but two?		2 Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments
Two testaments, the old and new,	=
We do acknowledge to be true.
What are they which are but three?		3 French Hens = Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues
Three persons in the Trinity	x
Which make one God in unity.
What are they which are but four		4 Calling Birds = the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
Four sweet Evangelists there are,	=
Christ's birth, life, death which do declare.
What are they which are but five?		5 Golden Rings = The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which gives the history of man's fall from grace.
Five senses, like five kings, maintain	x
In every man a several reign.
What are they which are but six?		6 Geese A-laying = the six days of creation
Six days to labor is not wrong,	=
For God himself did work so long.
What are they which are but seven?		7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments
Seven liberal arts hath God sent down	x
With divine skill man's soul to crown.
What are they which are but eight?		8 Maids A-milking = the eight beatitudes
Eight Beatitudes are there given	=
Use them right and go to heaven.
What are they which are but nine?		9 Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
Nine Muses, like the heaven's nine spheres,	x
With sacred tunes entice our ears.
What are they which are but ten?		10 Lords A-leaping = the ten commandments
Ten statutes God to Moses gave	=
Which, kept or broke, do spill or save.
What are they which are but eleven?		11 Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful apostles
Eleven thousand virgins did partake	x
And suffered death for Jesus' sake.
What are they which are but twelve?		12 Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed
Twelve are attending on God's son;	x
Twelve make our creed. The Dial's done.

After looking at a side-by-side comparison of "A New Dial" and "The Twelve Days of Christmas," I see some similarities but still have a lot of questions. Let's just say that Christians at some point in history for whatever motive simply wanted to have a verse to talk or sing about the Bible. And let's just say that the structure of call and response with twelve items was popular enough to be passed along orally for years and years. We still don't know:

• When was the descriptive interpretation of The Twelve Days of Christmas written (i.e., 10 Lords A-leaping = the ten commandments)? Was the description really a contemporary sub-text to the lyric? Or was it written much later? If later, as I suspect, then idea that the song was a shadow catechism collapses.
• If A New Dial is truly the predecessor of The Twelve Days of Christmas, why do the "stories" differ in detail over 50% of the time? 
• Even if we accept the premise that a shadow catechism dating from before the Edict of Milan morphed from A New Dial to The Twelve Days of Christmas, and further accept that 10 Lords A-leaping = the ten commandments, we still have no explanation--no clue whatsoever--for Lords A-leaping. Why Lords A-leaping? Why not nice sweaters? We simply do not know.  

Let's chalk it up to creative license!

Speaking of gift ideas that seem strange to us today, did you ever wonder why the magi gave Jesus gold, frankincense and myrrh? These valuable items were standard gifts to honor a king or deity in the ancient world: gold as a precious metal, frankincense as perfume or incense, and myrrh as anointing oil. Read more HERE

This brings us to the end of our four-part exploration into the First Day of Christmas. I hope you have enjoyed this series. 

Recapping:

• December 26 is the First Day of Christmas. The Twelve Days of Christmas conclude on Epiphany.  
• The "Official" Christmas Season for shopping and decorating purposes begins on Saint Nicholas Day and ends on Epiphany. I propose the term Christmastide, be modified to include the period of Advent, Christmas Day, and the Liturgical Christmas Season 
• The total number of gifts given by the singer's true love is 364--enough gifts for one per day from the first day of Christmas on December 26th to the following Christmas Eve.  
• The gifts have no hidden meaning relating to the catechism and rumors to that effect are unsubstantiated. The gifts seem random but they are no more bizarre than the original gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 

I hope that you will remember the main ideas from these four posts when Christmas comes around again. When will you start thinking about Christmas? When will those thought be put into action? How will you build anticipation for the day of Jesus' birth? How will you celebrate the occasion? How will you taper off from that high point and carry the lessons forward, sharing them with others?