I am a Brother in the Society of St. Paul. I don't "tweet," and I'm not on Face Book. I tried the Face Book thing briefly, but I find it frustrating and a basic waste of my time. If you want to know about me or contact me - just drop by this web site anytime.
    I never tried Tweeter, and I doubt that I will. I don't think any one needs to know or wants to know what I'm up to every second of every day. Tweet sounds a lot like twit to me. That's not intended to knock tweeters; its just my personal take on tweet.
    I keep a bit of a profile and update of things on Spaces Live, or what ever that is called. I update it about once every three to 36 week. Maybe its time for me to figure out how to take that blog down.

AGE, I.Q., WEIGHT, HEIGHT, AND SUCH: Born: 1951. IQ - high average. 220#, 6', 1". Gray hair (was blond or very light brown when I was about 70 pounds younger). I think it’s obvious I am male, but I'll mention it anyway. Single and always was. (I better be single; I'm a monk). Size 13 shoes. Roman Catholic and my home parish is Melkite Catholic.

BLOOD QUANTUM: That’s a heck of a question. I’ll break it down the best as I can. I’m 50% Catholic, ¼ Methodist, part Presbyterian, 33 and 1/3rd Baptist (and old enough to know what 33-1/3rd rpm means); allegedly some Jewish is in there some place, ¼ Lutheran and who knows what else. I think I have a bit of Tridentine Charismatic in the blood line as well handed down from a European Princes that was a great great great great great great Grandmother twice removed and restored once. I think she was either Norwegian or Basque. She was on my father’s side, but I think she switched sides as the war was coming to a close, became Swiss and moved to Argentina. We haven’t heard from her since.

SCHOOLING: Yes, I went to school. Fifth grade made up seven of my happiest years. I went to public and Catholic schools. There are things I can say for and against both systems. The Catholic school was basically a wanna-be school that couldn’t maintain accreditation; meaning it, like many parochial schools of those days, was substandard to public education.
    I did the college thing also. That was much more fun and I got a lot out of it and maintained high marks. I was not one to simply repeat the professors’ words or tell them only what was in the book. They looked forward to reading my papers. I look at life that way also: I’m not interested in a mundane existence.
    I don’t seek prestige because of the way I define prestige: living in the minds of others. I don’t care to spend time impressing others with brand names or latest equipment and style when I can enjoy life for what it is instead. I bought a big durable tent, not to show off, but so many people could come along and enjoy nature and each other’s company. My cell phone (recently acquired after years of resistance) can place or receive calls and figure out tips. It cost me $20 bucks and I’m not the lest bit interested to find out if it can do any other tricks like tweet others or send pictures. I don’t tweet, and pictures can wait.
    Education, as far as I’m concerned, is not about tweeting twits, nor about obtaining the latest brand name sneakers. Poor people worry about those things; (I’m referring to character poverty, not economics).

PS: I'm also old enough to know about 78rpm.


We all count for something. Every visitor to this web site and this web page is counted also.

    Many emails with the subject line beginning “FWD” in my mail box are deleted if they originate from a handful of my ultra right wing associates. Why? Because most of the claims in the FWD FWD are unfounded in addition to containing racist or inflammatory falsehoods against other religions. June 2010 saw a resurgence of false claims that various soda pop cans are manufactured with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag printed on the can omitting the words under God. Variations have been appearing annualy since 2001 or 2002; all of them unfounded.
    Coke and Pepsi never did print any such cans, though both have been accused. Dr. Pepper’s imprint was grossly taken out of content and intent by the rumor mongers on the extreme right. Dr. Pepper, following the 9/11 events, printed an image of the Statue of Liberty and only 3 of the 31 (or there about) words of the pledge, “One Nation . . . Indivisible.”
    From what I gather, it was not the intent to leave God out, but to patriotically and boldly print the three words that could easily be recognized in the limited space available.
    It’s no body’s business who I voted for in the last presidential election. I didn’t really care for either major candidate, though I also found things I liked about both candidates. The FWD FWD anti Obama emails filled with falsehoods about his place of birth and religious affiliation made me like Obama more just as a means to get back at the hate mongers who spread lies about him.
    Its fine with me if in the future a person who really is Muslim runs for our top office. I remember the hatred for us Catholics when JFK ran. I don't want to be associated with those of my religon that would to the same in kind against another religion. The religion of a candidate is not an issue with me, so long as our American ideals of religious freedom are upheld for all people.
    Over all, I think these baseless conspiracy FWD FWD emails are ignorant. The best way to prove me wrong is to mail me a post-9/11 Pepsi or Coke can containing any portion of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. It must be genuine and manufactured by Pepsi or Coke and not touched up after original manufacturing. I don't want a photo - I want a real can. I already know of the Dr. Pepper can, and I also know the intent was not to leave out God, but rather to place something patriotic on the can. Dr. Pepper did an excellent job in showing support to our Country.
    Incidentally, the original Pledge did not have the words “Under God.” That came in 1954. Therefore, the Greatest American Generation never included the words “Under God” when they recited the pledge during world War II, nor did the World War I generation. This “under God” portion is something Baby Boomer grew up with. My message for those extreme ultra right wingers who forward these conspiracy emails: If you are under the age of 65, (give or take a couple of years), then your parents and grandparents also left out the words, “under God” when they learned and proudly recited the Pledge. Do you question their loyalty, patriotism or spiritual soundness because of they also left out "Under God" when they pledged?

Other Ramblings:
Stuff about me

    I am a military veteran, United States Air Force. I served near the end of the Vietnam War, but I did not serve in ‘Nam. I entered Franciscan Formation (Friars) in late August, 1970, served in the USAF and then returned to the Franciscans. I left their formation (seminary) program around 1978/79 and continued on as a 3rd Order member (secular branch of the Franciscans). I worked in a supervisory capacity for a major metropolitan bus company for several years before making a return to conventual styled religious life in the very early 1990’s. I entered formation for the Society of St. Paul in or near 1995. This involved about a year of candidacy, a year of novitiate and I think six years of temporary vows before taking life time vows.
    Joshua is my professed Religious name. My birth name (and thus my legal name) is Tim. The name I was given in Ojibwemowin translates: “Man With a Good Message.” (Or it can be translated [He] Gives a Good Message).