The usual Open Thread rules apply:Â be concise, be charitable, and, above all, be amusing!
Open Thread
- Donald R. McClarey
Donald R. McClarey
Cradle Catholic. Active in the pro-life movement since 1973. Father of three, one in Heaven, and happily married for 43 years. Small town lawyer and amateur historian. Former president of the board of directors of the local crisis pregnancy center for a decade.
Neapolitan, Sicilian or New York style? Wood-fired, grilled or baked?
Rhode Island has it.
Hey now! Detroit pizza is just less messy Chicago style!
I am shockingly ecumenical… when it comes to pizza.
So long as it comes from a place with a genuine pizza tradition, I’m down for a slice (or half a pie!)
However, I live in the pizza desert known as the Midwest, where pizza generally comes from a freezer first and Casey’s GAS STATION serves one of the better pies. Oh the humanity!
I think maybe pizza culture needs to be within 100 miles from a sea, including inland seas like the Great lakes…
Thank you for this open thread I was just thinking and for what it is worth, thank you again.
‘The Ark contains the Ten Commandments and the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible written by Moses. Perhaps Trump will lead his people into freedom.
Satan told Eve; “You will be like God.” Adam and Eve were created by God in the image of God. Adam and Eve were like God. Satan promised our first Parents nothing they did not already have: free will, reason or intellect and sovereign personhood, including the perfect love of their Creator, the Infinite Supreme Sovereign Being, the three sovereign Persons of the Blessed Trinity.
These gifts are endowed to each and every descendant of Adam and Eve, and Eve as the Mother of the Living; every living soul, every one of “We, the people” until the end of time.
Although confounded by concupiscence, the original sin of Adam and Eve, each and every human being is endowed with free will, intellect and sovereign personhood from the very first moment of existence.
The Blessed Virgin created as all souls are in original innocence, used her fully informed reason, intellect, to ask her Creator for Perpetual Virginity in time and space. The Perpetual Virgin then became the Immaculate Conception. At birth the Perpetual Virgin became Mary. In the fullness of time, the Perpetual Virgin consented to be the Mother of Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God.
Back to Adam and Eve, as head of his family, if Adam had told his wife, Eve, “We are going to obey God,” Adam would have redeemed the whole human race.
Only when Adam and Eve were disinherited of Paradise did they learn evil. Everything in Paradise was good and Adam and Eve were “very good”
Saint Paul wrote “Husbands love your wives. Wives be submissive to your husbands” The feminist movement said “Hell, no way am I going to be submissive to a man”
Husband and wife are offices in covenant with the Infinite Supreme Sovereign Being, vocations. Again, the feminists got it wrong. Husbands and men are covenants apart.
God, the Infinite Supreme Sovereign Being; Jesus Christ in the Hypostatic Union, are Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.
God, “their Creator” endows all living souls in existence, created in original innocence with unalienable rights of “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” the pursuit of Truth.
Matzoh pizza. One minute in the microwave and Voila: Pizza with all the toppings
I’ve put mustard AND ketchup on my hot dogs my whole life. We grew up within 100 miles of Chicago but I never knew there was anything “wrong” about ketchup on hot dogs until I was at least 30 years old or so. Not sure how I missed that.
I grew up in Paris, Illinois Elaine using mustard or catsup indifferently on hot dogs. Still do!
I miss pizza and hot dogs on a bun and those kinds of food. But being a diabetic, I have been abstaining. Once in a while, when blood sugar after a workout gets into the low 80s mg/dl (like after this morning’s 25 kilometers on the stationary bike), I will “cheat” a little (I ate half a raison cinnamon bagel with my eggs and smoked salmon). I envy those of you who can indulge without consequence. Have a slice of pizza in my behalf!
PS, the half a bagel apparently had no ill effect; blood sugar was 82 mg/dl after shoulders and triceps before lunchtime salad and cottage cheese. I may need to have some carbohydrate (maybe a gaterade) before tonight’s 20 kilometers on the elliptical trainer. Yes, I normally exercise three times per day; the advantages of having a job which allows remote working at home. The wife is very pleased that at 66 years old, my abdominals are still visible. 😉
White hots are the best. Hardly sold outside of the Genesee Valley. Haven’t had one in 30 years. Just mustard on these. French’s.
==
Red hots take mustard (French’s), pickle relish, or both.
==
A dear friend of mine asked me over lunch nearly 40 years ago. “You wanna tell me something? You put that on your burger, does it taste like anything else but that?”. He had a point. Never put catsup on anything since. Wee dab on the French fry, if that. On your cheeseburger, pickle or pickle relish.
Oh by the way, since this is an open thread, here’s some good nuclear news.
“The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is in the process of rescinding or revising guidance and policies posted on this webpage in accordance with Executive Order 14151 Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing, and Executive Order 14168 Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government. In the interim, any previously issued diversity, equity, inclusion, or gender-related guidance on this webpage should be considered rescinded that is inconsistent with these Executive Orders.”
Did this story strike you as a cheesy propaganda job? (Things I didn’t know: the International Rescue Committee is run by a British Labour Party pol).
==
https://hotair.com/david-strom/2025/02/13/did-usaid-funding-freeze-really-kill-a-thai-woman-n3799792
(By cheesy propaganda exercise, I mean the media yarn the Hot Air commentary is critiquing).
Is there anything more manly than eating cold three-day-old pizza, ANY pizza? Guy, Texas
Does anyone remember Doug’s Dogs in a N Chicago suburb? I was driving to MN for my mother’s burial when my youngest suggested a detour stop for dinner at Doug’s. All sorts of dogs.maybe 25 -30 kinds..the best was the foie gras dog, a duck dog with a slice of foie gras and garlicky mayo. Wonderful.
I’ve come a long way…I remember 1st grade in Alaska end of the year picnic with the catsup and yellow mustard on the roll. Gross! I ate the hot dog and hid the roll under a bush. Catsup on scrambled eggs, ugh. Rotel maybe but not catsup! The Germans add curry catsup on their sausages.
“The Germans add curry catsup on their sausages.”
Interesting. I never encountered that, though I was only there for 2 months in the mid 1970s. A zillion kinds of mustard and kraut, but nothing vaguely resembling ketchup/catsup/that red tomato and vinegar sauce. And the sausages…the American hot dog is but a poor imitation.
Chicago style pizza is my favorite. There was a Washington, DC chain called Armand’s and they had lunch buffets that were awesome.
Being from the Pittsburgh area, there is NOTHING that does not go better with Heinz Ketchup. Hamburgers, hot dogs, kielbasa, scrambled eggs…you name it. Fries must be eaten with Heinz Ketchup.
For something more serious…
I mentioned a while back about my hard times with my older son. I received information from the local police. He will be charged as a juvenile with a misdemeanor and a felony, both related to theft. I have also heard from the county that both he and I will be interviewed.
Both the investigating officer and the county juvenile court official have told me that I must be the person to tell my son. I have told them both of what he has done to me and to my property. My decision is that the police department or the county official will tell him. I refuse to do it by myself and then call the police to come after he loses it.
Two weeks ago,my 75 year old next door neighbor suffered a stroke at his kitchen table and died. He left behind his wife of over 40 years, who is a cancer survivor. His funeral Mass was last Monday. My son took it upon himself to have a screaming fit at my wife for not bringing him to the gym instead of going to the fellowship after the funeral, and then started on me….while I was trying to get work done. He started his threat again of showing someone the recording he made of me yelling at him after he started one of his tirades. I hold him to go show it to anyone he wants. When I left to get my younger son from school to take him to hockey practice, I was shaking. I had a hard time shutting off my work computer.
Our home life is a mess. He wastes water in the shower leading to massive water and sewer bills. He constantly turns up the thermostat. He wastes food and paper towels. He could have a meltdown at anytime….usually when I want to sleep. All of us walk on eggshells around him.
I feel as if every institution one should rely upon has failed. I tried years ago to get counseling for him (which HAD to be with a mental health professional in the network…the entity I work for), but everyone I called said to leave a number and wait for a return call that never came.
The local school district failed by allowing hazing by the upperclassmen of the sport my son played…no adult supervision in the locker rooms. I have no proof of this other than what my son said what happened
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania failed me by allowing 14 year olds to refuse medical treatment, including mental.
The institution we had him in for a week never firmly diagnosed anything other than family counseling…which, of course he wants no part of.
I get screamed at with a demand to sell my house and move to another state so he can go to school there…no consideration as to how absurd that is. Oh, and a car, and his teeth…
I go to Mass weekly and during the week when I can. I pray for him. I go to Confession and Adoration and Holy Hour. Yet, I feel abandoned. I left the house one evening to escape the screaming. I saw an accident. At the time I wished it was me.
I also found out that a classmate from high school died at the end of January. I had not seen him for more than 40 years, but I remembered the time that I went to get my brother from basketball practice…my truck stalled out. I walked to his house…it was a snowy night…he and his dad gave me a jump start to get my truck running and home.
A long time friend of my mother…I have known her since the late 70s…is full of cancer and is dying. Her husband died of COPD and one of her sons died from bone cancer at 50.
Thank you for listening.
When you appear in Juvenile court bring an attorney with you. Have him or her make clear to the Judge that the kid is completely out of control and needs to go into foster care pending the outcome of the case. Hopefully your son will have a melt down in court to underline what you are saying.
I intend to contact an attorney this week. I have a number of things to discuss and I do not want to go into this blind
Penguin Fan, I’ll be praying for you and your whole family.
An out of control older brother also takes a toll on the younger boy. He told his friends that he wasn’t loved by us. Which wasn’t true, but dealing with his older brother did take a lot of our time.
I hope your oldest is under 18. Sounds like he needs a complete physical with drug tests and an EEG to rule out Tourette’s and other brain anomalies. Yes the teachers, guidance counselors at school and social workers can be unhelpful. In fact they can make matters worse.
When our son said his stomach hurt and he wanted to stay home we found out that he and three other pals were bullied by a Latin gang. The principal called it a group; no it was a real gang that made death threats.
As I remember there were 3 times in traffic court. He didn’t help himself by being belligerent to the police officers. After that he learned to keep his mouth shut and he started to take criminal justice courses at the community college.
A really good child psychiatrist can help. Even though your son is over 14, the juvenile boarding psych institutes are fairly crafty with admissions. Our son was admitted to a good one in Richmond. I personally don’t think adolescent day hospitals work; too much exposure with teens who had drug problems.
I hope your son is not hurting himself or threatening to hurt himself. Tantrums were bad but when our son started cutting himself that was the last straw. In these boarding institutions there are no “sharps” to hurt themselves with. No diagnosis of bi-polar or schizophrenia, thanks be to God. The young counselors are very positive working with these children. Our oldest’s stay was Aug through Oct.
Our sons are in their early forties and doing very well. They are decent, kind, honorable men who are known for their work ethics and have found occupations that they are good at; they call us often just to chat and vice versa. The conversations end with, “Love you, Mom.” and I respond, “Love you too.”
My husband and I are driving to Lafayette to meet up with both boys and extended family to celebrate country Mardi Gras.
Penguin, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I have to admit I would never ever want to go through those teen and young adults years again.
Praying, CAM
Penguins Fan – A Catholic may at times feel abandoned, but he never is. The Church in heaven and on earth (and according to some theologians, in purgatory) is always with us, praying for us. You have a guardian angel protecting you, as does your son. And I’m sure we’ll all be remembering you and your family in our prayers.
Penguins Fan-
Hard times. Take them one day at a time. I understand your fatigue. I wish neither one of us did!
Keep praying. I pray to St Dymphna daily for my child. First thing. Every day. I think I’m going to add your son to that too.
Don’t fall for the illusion and the lie that you are abandoned and alone. “You are worth many sparrows.”
PF – I’ve been praying and thinking of you. He always will be a child of God, but requires a tough hand. I think it’s beyond your control. This is not a normal healthy and functional way to live. Just keep reminding yourself anytime you feel you have to explain yourself.
I think Don has given you the best practical advice through his experience. As much as it hurts, I think you engage with your son as little as possible. You don’t have to explain anything to him. He has decided that manipulation and guilt trips might get him his way. Unfortunately it doesn’t. His behaviour is not good for anyone, including himself.
I still think there is something both psychological and spiritual occurring with your son. Not everyone who has been abused acts out like he is. He has a problem. You have to find a good doctor to diagnose him. Maybe focus on that in your prayers – to guide you to good doctors and help.
Keep talking here. It’s tough for men to open up, but it helps and there is no shame in doing so. God Bless you always.
A word about using “that” or “which” to refer to the Infinite Supreme Sovereign Being
Only in the Hypostatic Union of Jesus Christ’s human nature and Divine Nature does the metaphysical and the physical world meet.
In the physical world Jesus asks His Apostles: “Who do the people say I am?” or another way to write this is: I am who? The word “who” denotes the sovereign personhood of Jesus and Christ’s communion with and in the Infinite Supreme Sovereign Being, the Blessed Trinity. In the physical world the Real Presence of Jesus in humankind is bringing the metaphysical into the physical or material world.
In the same manner through the Hypostatic Union Jesus Christ is bringing the physical world into the metaphysical world. The soul of Jesus Christ in either the physical world or the metaphysical world can only be referred to as “who” for God’s name is “I AM WHO I AM”. Anything less denies God and the Son of God, Jesus Christ and the Love WHO proceeds from them, the sovereign personhood of the Infinite Supreme Sovereign Being.
Humankind, male and female are endowed by their Creator with sovereign personhood from the very first moment of their souls’ existence as those who are made in the image and likeness of their Creator, the Infinite
Supreme Sovereign Being.
Penguins Fan: Put your son into God’s hands. God made him. God will take care of him. Prayers