PETA

I subscribe to the This is True mailing list. The last issue had a story about PETA, which I followed to the website. You can view the pages here and here after reading the story below.

The following story is from This is True dated 17 July 2005. It is Copyright 2005 Randy Cassingham, all rights reserved, and reprinted here with permission:

"Ethical" Defined

After more than 100 dead dogs were dumped in a trash dumpster over four weeks, police in Ahoskie, N.C., kept an eye on the trash receptacle behind a supermarket. Sure enough, a van drove up and officers watched the occupants throw in heavy plastic bags. They detained the two people in the van and found 18 dead dogs in plastic bags in the dumpster, including puppies; 13 more dead dogs were still in the van. Police say the van is registered to the headquarters of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, and the two occupants, Andrew B. Cook, 24, and Adria Joy Hinkle, 27, identified themselves as PETA employees. An autopsy performed on one of the dogs found it was healthy before it was killed. Police say PETA has been picking up the animals -- alive -- from North Carolina animal shelters, promising to find them good homes. Cook and Hinkle have been charged with 62 felony counts of animal cruelty. In response to the arrests PETA President Ingrid Newkirk said it's against the group's policy for employees to dump animals in the trash, but "that for some animals in North Carolina, there is no kinder option than euthanasia." (Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald) ...Oops, my mistake: that's "Playing God" Defined.

In his author's notes section, Cassingham had more to say about this story:

The more I learn about PETA, the less I think of them. The story of them killing animals isn't even unusual. According to PETA's own filings, in 2004 PETA killed 86.3 percent of the animals entrusted to its care -- a number that's rising, not falling. Meanwhile, the SPCA in PETA's home town (Norfolk, Va.) was able to find loving homes for 73 percent of the animals put in its care. A shortage of funds? Nope: last year PETA took in $29 million in tax-exempt donations. It simply has other priorities for the funds, like funding terrorism (yes, really). But don't take my word for it: I got my figures from http://www.PETAkillsAnimals.com -- and they have copies of PETA's state and federal filings to back it up. The bottom line: if you donate money to PETA because you think they care for and about animals, you need to think some more. PETA literally yells and screams about how others "kill animals" but this is how they operate? Pathetic.

And you know what I wonder? PETA's official count of animals they kill is 86.3 percent. But if they're going around picking up animals, killing them while they drive around and not even giving them a chance to be adopted, and then destroying the evidence by dumping the bodies in the trash, are those deaths being reported? My guess: no. While 86.3 percent is awful, the actual number is probably much, much higher. How dare they lecture anyone about the "ethical" treatment of animals!

(This is True is a weekly column featuring weird-but-true news stories from around the world, and has been published since 1994. Click the link for info about free subscriptions.)

Blessings & Peace,
Hugo

My World Famous Potato Salad ® (tm)

I enjoy cooking, and one of the things I love to make (that people love to eat!) is my potato salad. It’s my own recipe, and several people have asked for it, so here you go - my World Famous Potato Salad ® (tm) – enjoy :)

Ingredient / Supply List:

• 5 lbs Yukon Gold Potatoes (or any “gold” potato)
• 1 dozen large eggs
• Sea Salt
• McCormick Vegetable Supreme Seasoning
• McCormick Herbes de Provence
• Mayonnaise (1/2 Cup to 1 cup; I prefer HEB brand Mayo)
• Large Pot (for potatoes)
• Smaller pot (for eggs)
• Mixing Spatula or spoon
• Large Bowl
• Spoon for Mayo

(Please note that these instructions will be vague in some places) :)

1. In a large pot bring water to boil (I think I use a 2 Quart pot filled about 1/2 way with water; just make sure the pot is large enough to accomodate all the potatoes and still have room for the water to boil). Add a generous amount of Herbes de Provence to the water (or any herb blend – I like to infuse some flavor into the potatoes as they boil), as well as some Sea Salt to taste (or any kind of salt – potatoes are good at soaking up salt – but I prefer Sea Salt for the milder flavor and trace minerals that refined salt loses; if you need some iodine in your diet, they also sell Iodized Sea Salt, but I prefer the one you have to grind).

2. In a smaller pot, add 12 eggs and cover the eggs with about an inch of water. Bring them to a boil as well.

3. As both of these pots are starting to boil, wash and cube your potatoes. Make the cubes about bite-size, not too small or too large. I don’t skin the potatoes (gold potatoes tend to have a thin skin), but you can if you’d prefer. Add the potatoes to the pot as you continue to cube them.

4. Once the eggs have started boiling move the temperature down to simmer and keep them there for 10 minutes. When the time is finished, drain the boiling water down the sink and flush the eggs with cool water for about 5 minutes. (I tend to just leave the pot with the water running into in). (By the way, cooling your eggs like this before you peel them makes it easier to peel them) :)

5. Check on your potatoes – boil them until they are soft (but not falling apart – about 10-15 minutes should do it, depending on how large the cubes are).

6. Drain your potatoes and move them to a large container. Make sure it’s large enough to accommodate all of the potatoes, as well as the eggs, and still give you room to mix them once you add the mayonnaise.

7. Take your eggs and hit them on a hard surface three times – once on top, once on the bottom, and once on the side. Peel your way from the pointiest end to the roundest end carefully. They should peel well :)

8. Slice or cube your eggs (I use an egg slicer, but a sharp knife works, too) and put them on top of the potatoes. (If you’re worried about cholesterol use less eggs, or take out half the yokes before you slice them)

9. Add about a cup of mayonnaise (more or less depending on how creamy you want them) and then gently stir with a mixing spatula. Once it looks well stirred add in generous amounts of Vegetable Supreme seasoning and keep stirring. Also, add in more salt to taste.

10. I’ve added in shredded cheese and bacon to them before, both of which add a nice touch (and make them taste like loaded baked potatoes). You can add in any other things you like as well (pickles, celery, black olives, onion, mustard, etc.), but for a basic potato salad this works every time.

And that’s it – delicious potato salad for any time. Let me know if any of you try it! :)

Blessings & Peace,
Hugo

Authority Again

Continuing my post from a few weeks back :)

Catholic teaching has been, from our earilest time as a community of followers of the Way, to listen to the voice of our pastors, wether that's the earliest Apostles, the men appointed by them, or their eventual succesors. Scripture (in terms of the New Testament) did not enter the picture until after Paul started writing it. Then the other epistles came in, then the Gospels & Acts. It may come down to Scriptural interpretation - we had a community of believers (the Church) before we had a written document (Scriptures) of our belief. Even then, the canon of Scripture was chosen by the body of believers and ratified by the chosen few who were deacons, preists, pastors, bishops, etc.

I do not wish for the following to be taken as a judgment but rather an honest assessment based upon the personal relationship I know and am experiencing with Christ within myself. I do not see how an acceptable compromise on this issue can be reached between what is in your heart and where your church stands if a new birth as scripture discusses has occurred in your life. I would see your struggle being identical with that of Martin Luther who concluded that if Romans 1:17 "The Just shall live by faith," was true then how could he continue to practice the demands of his church, and chose to remove himself from it. I welcome continued discussion on the subject.

Martin Luther rallied against a form of Catholicism that never officially existed - selling indulgences/entrance into heaven, preaching that it was *only* through works that one could be saved, etc. We had many over zealous pastors, preachers, bishops and cardinals who saw a great way to make a quick buck and went for it. Some were passionate and honest in their preaching, but they still distorted what they thought to be Church teaching. Since the Second Vatican Council in the 1960's much of official Catholic doctrine has validated some of the concerns Martin Luther so famously posted on that Church door.

Be that as it may, the demands the Church makes are baseline demands - attend Mass on Sundays, celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation at least once a year, make some time during the year to fast and abstain, pray, etc. The Church demands these things in an effort to remind us of our call to holiness - to remind us that as followers of Christ we should act as Christ would - praying often, fasting, striving to lead a life that is without blemish, loving in thought, word and deed, etc. It's an institution, so it finds institutional ways to call us to be more like Christ.

I'm reminded of retreats - on a retreat we make time and space to step away from our day-to-day lives and have peak experiences - transfiguration moments - which can't last forever. The Church, through it's long existence, has found certain elements to be important to the life of a believer (prayer, Scripture, almsgiving, fasting, community celebrations, periods of purgation, etc.) - so she calls her children to follow these. Some don't, some chaff under the assault on their "individuality" and "freedom," some hesitantly accept, some perform them only outwardly . . . but some respond to them, and are called to a deeper relationship with Jesus.

It's for that reason alone that the Church continues to call forth to the community of believers to respond in certain ways - to develop and nurture a deep and abiding love of God.

So yeah, I will rail against the Church and assert the primacy of my individual conscience . . . and the Church officially agrees with me. The Church will continuously remind me, however, that the things I am called to are good . . and they have been around for millenia . . . and in my individual freedom of choice, I should at least attempt the disciplines that the greatest of our Christian saints & martyrs have used time and time again to nourish themselves and ascend to the heights of holiness.

Blessings & Peace,

Hugo

No more teacher, no more books :)

School is out for my family for the summer (wife and I both teach, son is still in middle school), and I am so looking forward to a summer break. :)

I plan on bringing my backyard back to life, throwing out 50 things, and exercising a little bit (but not too much). I also plan to wantonly waste time either alone or with my family (which would include more blogging and reading time).

See you online more often!

Blessings & Peace,
Hugo

Saturn

Our school shut down for a few days (Monday - Wednesday), so I thought I'd use some of that time to take our Saturn Vue in for some maintenance. Monday morning I left our home and headed out, secure in the knowledge that my vehicle would be repaired, washed and vacuumed by noon or so, and I could drive back home happy.

As I exited Expressway 83 and made my way to the Saturn dealership, I noticed that it looked surprisingly empty. There were still many new vehicles parked and ready for new owners, but the metal bars that block access to the grounds were closed. The lights were off in all of the buildings, and there were no people anywhere in view.

I thought, hoping against hope, that maybe in some weird cosmic confluence of events swine flu had hit Saturn and they were temporarily closed. So I called their number - no answer. I called my wife and had her check their website - no more website. I could feel my hope draining. I asked my wife to go to the main Saturn website and look for a contact number; she found a Customer Support number which I promptly called (gotta love cell phones). (Though I have to say, arguing with an automated voice system to try to get a live person on the phone ranks up there as one of the few things that really irritate me in this life!)

The polite gentleman on the other end of the line informed me that indeed my beloved Saturn dealership was closed; the closest one was in San Antonio and would I like their number? I laughed and informed him that I had no wish to drive for almost three hours to get my vehicle serviced (my wife, upon hearing of that particular part of the conversation: "Doesn't it take about 3 1/2 hours to get there?" and then remembering that I tend to view Speed Limits as guidelines instead of absolutes).

So I was put on hold while he searched for a local dealership that would be able to honor my still functioning warranty. A few minutes later (while I contemplated quarterly trips to San Antonio under the guise of "but honey, the car needs to get that oil change") the polite service representative came back and informed me that there was a local Chevrolet dealership that would be servicing all Saturn vehicles in the area. I took their number and called them.

I was taken aback as I had to make an appointment to take my car in. I was used to royal VIP treatment at Saturn where I could freely waltz in at any time that suited me to have my precious Vue mended. I also missed the open construction of the Saturn building - no walls, only lots of open space and even a vehicle or two to admire as I waited. Instead of very comfortable couches (if I wanted to watch TV or read) or small round tables (if I wanted to work) I had to be content with a small, cramped waiting area. Instead of a nice selection of donuts and pan dulce to satiate my appetite I had to make do with some water. And instead of the people I had come to know at Saturn I had to walk into a new place, talk to people I didn't know.

It hit me, as I was talking to my wife, that I was in mourning. Which was an interesting feeling for me. That particular Saturn dealership was a fixture in my life for about seven years. The man who sold us our first Saturn (Ben) passed away about 2 years ago, and it was a loss we felt (I still remember him telling us to go home and think about our first purchase for a few days - he was a gentle man who did not have a pushy bone in his body). A former students' dad was the general manager there for a while, prompting a passing, causal remark ("tell your did I want a new car!") to turn into "honey, so and so's dad talked to me this morning when I took the car in for service - you want to go pick out a new one?"

So I pray for the people that worked at the Saturn dealership, I pray for Saturn, and I pray for my attachment to that place that sold us our first new vehicle and that sold us three more after that.

Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord.

And let perpetual light shine upon them.

May their souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed,

through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Amen.

RIP Saturn of McAllen - you will be missed.

Blessings & Peace,

Hugo