Things that make me go HMMMMMMM -- The need for a good hat

For the past decade or better, I have donned a fedora, particularly in the non-summer months.  I think that it makes any man's head look good.  Hats should come back.

Of course, with hats coming back, people need to re-learn hat etiquette.  I am not a master of hat etiquette, but there are a few facts I am aware of.  Most important among them: Men, take off your hats in church!  This is a sacred space.  If you are asked to remove your hat for the singing of the national anthem, how much more should your hat be removed in the presence of God!

I also think of how our American society has denigrated into a nation of slobs.  Save the pajama pants and lounge-wear for your house, not for the mall or the airport.  I don't think we need to return to men wearing suits everywhere, including baseball games.  Still, that was a great look.  See here:

The preferred head-ware has diminished in quality over the years, too.  Take a look at the chart below.  

I think we peaked in 1935.  That, of course, is my opinion.  But my opinion is based on the quality of the hats people used to wear.

Bring back the fedora!!!

Edmund Fitzgerald -- 50-year anniversary of the wreck

I am curious to know how much this anniversary is getting notice outside Michigan and the Great Lakes area (Things that make me go HMMMMMMM, I guess).  The Detroit News has had an article in the last several newspapers about it.  Of course, Mariners' Church is downtown Detroit, right on the Detroit River.  The Dossin Great Lakes Museum is on Belle Isle in the Detroit River.  They have a memorial, including the anchor of the Edmund Fitzgerald which had fallen off its chain and was lodged on the floor of the Detroit River for many years.

50 years ago today, the Edmund Fitzgerald--the largest man-made item to be launched into the Great Lakes up to that time--was lost in Lake Superior, claiming the lives of all 29 men on board.  They remain entombed in the Edmund Fitzgerald to this day.

Theories abound as to exactly how the Edmund Fitzgerald ended up on the bottom of Lake Superior.  Based on communications with the Arthur M. Anderson which was trailing behind the Fitz, the captain of the Fitzgerald claimed, "We are holding our own"--that despite the numerous problems he had reported.  Was that willful denial?  Was it a stubborn streak?  Was Captain McSorley convinced that his vessel could withstand the worst Lake Superior could offer?  All previous encounters with horrendous weather said it could.  

In any case, it was mere minutes after the claim, "We are holding our own," that the Edmund Fitzgerald disappeared from sight and from radar.  It rests in two large pieces, over 500 feet deep on the bed of Lake Superior.

Here is a post from my 40th anniversary recollection, with a few additional photos which were not Googled.

In honor of those who were lost, give a listen to Gordon Lightfoot's song.  Interesting note about this recording: Gordon Lightfoot did not even have this song completed when it was recorded.  He worked with his fellow musicians and they discussed briefly what they would like it to sound like.  It was recorded, unrehearsed.  Several additional takes were recorded, but none were deemed as good as the first take.  That is amazing!  Here it is.  Enjoy.

Things that make me go HMMMMMMM

I bought this coffee mug just a few weeks ago.  I thought it was high time that I had some Detroit Tigers' paraphernalia in my office.  

Ever since I bought this, the Tigers have gone into free fall.  Did I do that?????  Hmmmmmmm...

Things that make me go, HMMMMMMM

As the Apostle John was recording the events of Jesus' resurrection, he mentioned the Apostle Thomas and noted that he is also known as Didymus, or, "the Twin."  If John had done this once, it would be an interesting piece of trivia.  

But John doesn't write this once.  He writes it THREE TIMES -- John 11:16, John 20:24, and John 21:2.  This is hardly coincidental, and it goes beyond an interesting piece of trivia.

That being said, I don't know what John's point was in including this bit of information three times.  If someone has a compelling theory to offer, I would like to hear it.  But for now, it is one of those things that make me go, "HMMMMMMM...."

Things that make me go HMMMMMMM -- Elephant boats????

It is that time of the year when the air waves are flooded with Christmas carols.  I don't get on board until Thanksgiving has passed (or at least our service the night before Thanksgiving).  

Some Christmas songs are pretty well dated, even if they remain popular.  We still hear people singing songs about their longing for figgy pudding and children who allegedly dream of sugar plums.  But this is not the most grievous, outdated lyric I've encountered.

Consider a portion of the lyrics of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town."

"With curly-haired dolls that coddle and coo, elephant boats, and kiddie cars, too."

ELEPHANT BOATS??????

I've asked elderly people if they remember some trendy toy known as elephant boats.  So far, no one has.  I've looked it up on the internet and have found only photos of gondolas in India.  Now, I appeal to the worldwide audience for an answer.  Were "elephant boats" ever a thing?

If it helps to discover the answer, the song appears to have been released in 1934.  Is this some Depression era toy?

Just one of those things that make me go HMMMMMMM.....

Things that make me go HMMMMMMM

I saw this in the parking lot of Mi Pueblo restaurant in Mexicantown, Detroit.  And I wondered, "Why?"  

I don't hate it.  It just raises questions.

No, there is not a bowling alley here.

Things that make me go Hmmmmmm...

Random thought and conspiracy theory after yesterday's colonoscopy: Colonoscopies are not real.  The aliens have crafted a way to probe us with their abducting us and without our protest.  Hmmmmmm....

Things that make me go HMMMMMMM -- vague references to the Bible

The archbishop of San Francisco of the Roman Catholic Church has banned California representative Nancy Pelosi from taking Holy Communion because of her support and promotion of abortion.  The Scriptures are clear on this: "You shall nor murder" (Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17, et al).  

The editorial staff of the San Francisco Examiner is demanding that the Pope remove the archbishop from office.  They have no business making such a demand, but it is not surprising that they would.  What is surprising, however, is Nancy Pelosi's response to being banned.  She invoked the Bible to defend her stance on abortion.  

Well, my curiosity is piqued.  What Scripture will defend her position?

From this article (Nancy Pelosi defends abortion stance on MSNBC, hits back at archbishop by referencing the Bible) Pelosi is referenced (a quotation would have been better) as saying, "the Gospel of Matthew was the 'agenda' of the Church, a position that she claimed is rejected by many who side with them on the termination of pregnancies."  In addition, Pelosi said (this time she is quoted): "This decision taking us to privacy and precedent is very dangerous in the lives of so many American people and again not consistent with the Gospel of Matthew."

HMMMMM....  "The Gospel of Matthew...."?  What, exactly, in the Gospel of Matthew is she referring to?  Chapter and verse would be helpful, especially if she holds the Church (in particular, the archbishop) in contempt.  If the Church needs correction on the topic of abortion based on the Gospel of Matthew, a clear verse from the Gospel of Matthew ought to do the trick.  Where is it?  What is it?  Having read the Gospel of Matthew many times, I don't know what she is talking about or what this "agenda" in Matthew's Gospel is.

Now, in an effort to be fair to Mrs. Pelosi, maybe she did cite a verse and the reporters neglected to put it in the article.  Editors pick and choose what they deem worth printing, so a quotation from the Bible may be considered unsavory or offensive by them.  But I doubt it.  I suspect that the reporters and Pelosi herself would find great delight in showing up the archbishop with a clear, Scriptural rebuke of his position.

But it is not just the position of the archbishop or "the Church."  It is what the word of the Lord says.  Mrs. Pelosi clearly rejects that, and she was unable to provide a verse that explains why.

Things that make me go HMMMMMMM -- Lake Huron

Here is a sunrise over Lake Huron taken from Lakeport State Park, just north of Port Huron.  The haze and the distance makes it impossible to see the Great Lakes freighter which was on the horizon--going south into the St. Clair River, as best as I could tell.  Laura and I were able to sneak away for a camping trip, just to two of us.  (Peter spent the night with a friend.)  Laura noted that this was the first time we had done this since 1993.

As we were enjoying a day, a night, and a morning on the shore of one of the Great Lakes, I began to ponder.  My thoughts made me go, "Hmmmmmm."  Why is it Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, and Lake Superior, but it is Houghton Lake, Higgins Lake, Torch Lake, Burt Lake, etc.?  What decides if "Lake" is the first word in the title or the last?

Size of the lake, you suggest?  I don't think so.  Lake St. Clair is in the chain of the Great Lakes, but it is most certainly not a Great Lake.  In Wisconsin, Lake Winnebago is the largest lake in the state, but certainly not worthy of Great Lake.  The Great Salt Lake is the largest inland lake west of the Mississippi, but "Lake" comes at the end.  In Wisconsin, Mirror Lake and Lake Delton are right next to each other.

So far, the best theory I can come up with is that "Lake" being the first word happens because of a French influence.  The French got to the Great Lakes first, so "Lake" introduces the name of each Great Lake.  In turn, "Lake" coming at the end of the title might be a British influence.  Lac du Flambeau (Wisconsin) would support that French influence theory, but then Fond du Lac (Wisconsin) blows it apart.  So, the mystery remains.  Any ideas out there?

Things that make me go HMMMMMMM

On the one hand, I am grateful that my children think enough of my sermons and of Good Shepherd that they tune into our online feeds when they are away from home.

On the other hand, it appears that a new game has arisen: Find, pause, and screen shot the animated images of their Dad in the pulpit.  Hmmmmmm.

To be fair, they have not done anything incriminating or disrespectful with these images (that's not a challenge, by the way).  And while it might be tempting to offer strategic poses during sermons, I will do my best to forget that I may be fodder for memes.

Here is some of their handiwork.  (I am partial to the second one.)

Things that make me go, HMMMMMMM... and the city of Novi

Novi is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and the city has been putting out YouTube videos about the history of the city.  This month's installment has to do with the Novi Expo Center (now a vacant lot, but being developed for something new) and the Suburban Collection Showplace.

If you are driving into Novi from the west on I-96, you will notice a large water town with the word "Adell" on it.  It always made me go HMMMMM, wondering who or what Adell was.  The video below references (not much, but it does) Frank Adell, who was involved with the Novi Expo Center.  Mystery solved.

It also shows how Novi has grown.  Back when the Novi Expo Center had only one entry off of Novi Road, the traffic on weekends was horrendous.  It was best to avoid Novi Road and Grand River at all costs.  Traffic on Novi Road is a lot happier on weekends now that they have two different directions of entry into the Suburban Collection Showplace.

You can watch the video about the Novi Expo Center and the Suburban Collection Showplace here.

Things that make me go HMMMMMMM,

The tracking mechanism which reports who comes to look at my blog--more specifically how many hits it gets and where they are from--lists the countries of the people who are checking in.  It is the top ten which get listed.  Recently, the top ten countries has included  "Unknown Region."

My theory is that the aliens have found me.  Or the FBI.

Either way -- GREETINGS!  I hope you find my entries worth while, wherever you are.

Things that make me go HMMMMMMM -- Super Bowl 52

On Sunday, February 4, the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles will face each other for Super Bowl LII (52, that is).  These two teams had played each other before in Super Bowl XXXIX (39, that is), with New England proving to be victorious, 24-21.


The previous Patriots-Eagles Super Bowl was played in Jacksonville, Florida.  This upcoming Patriots-Eagles Super Bowl will be played in Minneapolis, Minnesota.


Which two teams did the Patriots and Eagles just beat to get to Super Bowl LII?


Things that make me go HMMMMMMM.....

Things that make me go HMMMMMMM -- The Apostle Paul

Forensics can be cool.

Some scientists have worked on the bones of famous deceased people to determine what they would have looked like based on forensics.  In the link below, there are ten people whose faces were configured to show what they would have looked like.  Quite often, they show that artists renditions were pretty accurate.  Of special interest are Johann Sebastian Bach and the Apostle Paul (assuming that the remains they found were, indeed, of the apostle).  Paul's face is copied below.  You can find other historical figures in the link below.  In any case, it is pretty cool.



You can find it all here.  Note: The site is in Spanish, but you can pretty much figure out who everyone is.

Hat tip: Cranach, the Blog of Veith

Things that make me go HMMMMMMM -- Silhouette on the hill

If you travel on I-96, you will see it on the south side of the highway, just up the hill past the Milford Road exit.  I have seen it for years now, and I am still as flummoxed as ever.  Here it is:

Yeah.  It is the silhouette of a man wearing a suit and a fedora.

A few people have tried to explain its existence to me, but no one has helped.
I have been told that the hill is a landfill site.  That is true, but it does not explain the man in the suit.
I have been told there are sports fields on the other side.  Again, true.  But how does that explain the silhouette?

If you've seen it and know why this is here, please let me know.  I am at a loss for explanations.

I do like the hat, though.

Things that make me go, "HMMMMMMM..."

Every once in a while, you have to wonder what someone was thinking.

The picture below is from The Church by the Sea in Madeira Beach, Florida.  It is a non-denominational church.

All things considered, the entire church complex seems to be a pretty nice building.  But I was wondering if, at any point in the design or construction process, someone did not even once ask, "Does anyone else see a chicken?"