The Fourth Sunday Of Advent

It's time to rejoice:

 Now we return to December and Christmastide, when during the darkest days, we rejoice in the promise of the one true Light who has come into the world. This great wonder is pondered each year across the 12 days of Christmas, from Dec. 25 through Epiphany on Jan. 6.

Before this great feast arrives, however, there is a great season of preparation. Advent is not just for baking, caroling or gift-giving, but also for holding back the fullness of Christmas joy until the Nativity itself.

Including the recipe for mincemeat pies;)

What Is Your Favourite Bible Version?

KJV, NKJV, NIV, ESV, NLT, NASB, Douay-Rheims? And why? What about the original manuscripts? TR vs CT vs Majority? 

The Importance Of Exercise

 I hope you haven't forgotten to exercise today:

Back in 2016, an international team of researchers reported that leisure-time physical activity was associated with lower risk for many types of cancer—and this held regardless of body size or smoking history. More recently, a 2025 study of more than 85,000 adults in the United Kingdom found that people with the highest level of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity had a 26% lower risk for cancer compared to those with the least. People who engaged in light activity (such as household chores), had higher daily step counts or substituted an hour a day of sedentary time with physical activity also saw benefits. Another UK Biobank study found that even brief bursts of vigorous activity totaling less than five minutes a day reduced cancer incidence among people who did not exercise regularly.

Do We Shower Too Much?

 That's an interesting topic;)

The case for showering less

Overcleaning your body is probably not a compelling health issue. Yes, you could be making your skin drier than it would be with less frequent showering. This is not a public health menace. However, daily showers do not improve your health, could cause skin problems or other health issues — and, importantly, they waste a lot of water. Also, the oils, perfumes, and other additives in shampoos, conditioners, and soaps may cause problems of their own, such as allergic reactions (not to mention their cost).

Thoughts?

The Magnificent Century Season 2

A review. 

Well, it did take me a long time to finally finish watching it, but keep in mind it is 39 double episodes. It starts with Leo's murder/suicide and ends with the iconic scene of the triumph of Hurrem. Because it's so long it's difficult to write a short review. I guess it could be summed up in a couple of sentences like this: A group of evil murderous psychopaths is trying to get rid of another group of evil murderous psychopaths by all means possible, with some characters changing their allegiance in the process. The stage is being set for the final power struggle which will take place in the last season.

All the characters who were more or less sympathetic in Season 1 change for the worse. By the end of the season there are few of them who never shed innocent blood. Basically, it's Prince Mustafa, his aunt Hatice-sultan and strangely enough, his mother Mahidevran (but not for the lack of trying). Mustafa is basically too good for this world (as someone pointed out in comments, he even sleeps with women out of pity) which will ultimately bring his downfall in Season 4. As for Hatice, I guess she just really didn't have it in her. She is literally the epitome of a pampered, sheltered, spoiled royalty (I am the DYNASTY! You serve ME;)

The story goes as follows. After her ex-boyfriend Leo's death, Hurrem is obsessed with taking revenge on Ibrahim, who is by now the 1st minister. For this purpose, she starts visiting an astrologist and black magician who gives her deadly poison. In the meanwhile, Sultan Suleiman is falling for Princess Isabella of Castile who is kidnapped by a pirate while sailing to meet her fiance and consequently sold to him. Her disappearance is one of the riddles of the series. What did really happen to her? Did Hurrem have her killed or just exiled? My bet is she was murdered, btw.

Ibrahim survives the attempt on his life but there is a conspiracy brewing against him led by the mysterious figure called "His Holiness" (or Master Lord in another translation). At the same time Hurrem realises that her position as the chief consort is really shaky and does her best to trick Suleiman into marrying her, with success. This and Isabella's disappearance finally turn Suleiman's mother (also known as Valide or Royal Mother) firmly against her. The power struggle between them will continue for years.

After the wedding takes place, Mahi goes into exile together with her son. When she returns, Mustafa is basically an adult and she decides to choose a concubine for him. Little does she know, that the girl she chooses is Hurrem's spy and a would-be assassin. Ibrahim, in the meanwhile, is banging his best friend's wife Nigar while telling his own wife Hatice that his frequent absence at night is due to the "state business"...

There are several other subplots but that's about it. From what I read, when the show just came out, it was widely criticised by conservative elements in Turkey for its licentiousness. A big part of action takes place in a br8thel. This br8thel is basically visited by everyone (Bali bey practically lives there:), including eunuchs (except Suleiman, that is). Eunuchs and Nigar's husband Nasuh efendi basically just go there to get drunk (that's where Nasuh spends his wedding night, btw). It's mostly called "a tavern" but some translations just called it what it is which makes for some funny dialogue between Hatice and Nasuh:

"Why did my husband and you keep visiting the br8thel?"

"To discuss state business." 

"So you only went to the br8thel because of state affairs?"

"Yes, m'lady, why else?"

Nasuh efendi in real life was a poet, a scientist and a very important historical figure but the show depicts him as an unlucky alcoholic who will try to pass Ibrahim's child as his own in the end. I heard that his family who are still around tried to sue the producers and I sympathise;)

Anyway, while Hurrem wins in the end, for me this victory was bittersweet because honestly, I don't see her as a positive character. But then, it's difficult to say who is...

The acting is superb, btw, which makes it a really great show. But the characters aren't really black and white but rather all shades of grey. Watch it at your own discretion.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends:) 

God Bless

A New Trend In American Christianity

Read about it over here

Alcohol And Health

 Time to rethink casual drinking:

Alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, after tobacco and obesity, increasing risk for at least seven types of cancer. While scientific evidence for this connection has been growing over the past four decades, less than half of Americans recognize it as a risk factor for cancer.

Book Review: The Long Way Home

  This is probably the 1st review of my book written 10 years ago. I can distinctly remember that I had it published but somehow discovered it in "drafts" so I'm posting it again. Please keep in mind that internet trends have changed considerably since those times. I don't even remember any more what "neoreaction" is. The quote was inspired by the bailout in a certain European country which had happened a couple of years earlier, btw.

 

07/14/2015Donovan Greene
 

Today’s book review comes from (where else?) the request of a reader. Sanne Wijker is a reader of mine who herself blogs over at athriftyhomemaker.blogspot.nl. She is the author of the book “The Long Way Home”. She dropped me a friendly e-mail asking if I’d give it a look. Me being me, I did.

Before I even made it to the table of contents, I found myself gazing at the lyrics of a Manowar song.

It actually did a pretty good job of setting the tone for what turned out to be a thrilling adventure novel.

The story begins with a brief introduction to the two central characters and allows for a steady glimpse of the fantasy world that Wijker has created. I quickly found myself taking a liking to the character of Lennart, though I had a sinking feeling that he was being set up to be an eventual antagonist, given that he was being presented as a cold and pragmatic figure. Needless to say, I felt great relief when it turned out that he was to be the main character of this tale after all.

“Oh, you are hopeless,” sighed Brian. “You never can be serious, never.
Think about your honor. That swine called you —.”

“An idiot, I know, but I think I can live with it, while in your opinion my honor demands me to challenge him to a fight, kill him and get executed. No, thanks. I don’t like the idea. I have only one year left to go and then I will be free as a bird and with money in the bank, too. I’d rather stay alive.”

It is hard not to like a man with perspective and restraint (and lest certain of my readers find that this description of Lennart paints him as an unsympathetic a hero, I would let them know that he very quickly comes to learn which moral lines he will and will not cross, and his pragmatism is often tempered by his unyielding adherence to his moral code).


Neoreactionary themes are not hard to find, if you’re into that sort of thing. Some of them were painted into the work with a hammer, not a brush.

“The locals made a pretty mess out of things, what with uncontrolled immigration leading to an ethnic conflict which they did nothing to prevent, irresponsible spending and all other ill-conceived policies; at least now they’ll get some semblance of order. I’m not going to lose my sleep at night because of it,” replied Lennart calmly. He ordered another drink.

Ever present in the background is the fantasy of well-run societies, which is a soothing indulgence that should resonate quite strongly with many of you.

This in mind, Wijker could learn to do with a bit of subtlety. Everyone is almost always unbelievably honest, and I do mean unbelievably. It frequently jumps out at you how pretty much no one in the book ever fails to be completely straightforward and direct when conversing with others. Still, if you take it as being a part of the world that has been built, it is not too jarring, though it never stops being a bit odd. Additionally, people sometimes behave in ways that don’t quite make sense, though it always moves the story along and so such oddities are quickly forgotten.

As for the actual plot itself, it winds and weaves and it only rarely fails to be absolutely thrilling. Though the record seems to skip on the phonograph every once in a while, the sound is crisp and smooth. This is an exciting story that was great fun to read. Bumps and twists and turns and oddities aside, the simple fact of the matter is that this is a rewarding book that when you finish it makes you feel glad to have read it.

Buy it here if you’re interested.