Ad Altare Dei

The Boy Scouts have a religious medal program for Catholics called Ad Altare Dei (to the altar of God). Here it is laid out in comic form.

Click for larger images.

[source] The Treasure Chest of Fun & Fact was a Catholic comic book published by George A. Pflaum of Dayton, Ohio and provided to Catholic parochial school students between 1946 and 1972. The digital collection contains the first eighteen volumes running from 1946 to 1963, which are in public domain. There are some issues missing from Volume 4 (1948-1949). The issues published from 1964 through 1971 are still under copyright protection, which cannot be included in the digital collection at this time. Issues published in 1972 were not copyrighted and will be added to the collection soon.

Makes Me Laugh

I can't help it, I laugh every time I see this one ... your tire's all flat and junk ...

Age Appropriate Virtues: 13 To 15 Years Old

A resource that I refer back to periodically is a book called Character Building: A Guide for Parents and Teachers by David Isaacs. It outlines the general virtues that parents should be developing in their children at various ages.

• Up to 7 years old
• From 8 to 12 years old
• From 13 to 15 years old
• From 16 to 18 years old

I don't have any kids this old yet, but if anyone would like to share their experiences, feel free to let us know what we're in for.

From 13 to 15 Years Old

• Modesty
• Moderation
• Simplicity
• Sociability
• Friendship
• Respect
• Patriotism

From age of thirteen to fifteen, it seems desirable, in view of the young person's greater awareness of his own intimacy, to insist especially on virtues linked with temperance, in the first place. The purpose behind this is to help him keep goodness in sight and not let his passions get out of control.

If we emphasized fortitude earlier on, we now come to harnessing that virtue to protect what is everyone's precious possession - his intimacy. By this I mean soul, sentiments, thoughts - not just physical intimacy. The virtues of modesty and moderation involve recognizing the value of what one possesses, so as then to make better use of it - in accordance with standards which are right and true.

What kinds of motivation can we offer children at this stage? I thing we have to give them reasons. We ourselves generally learned to behave by imitating our educators, but nowadays our children are not inclined to imitate us. They ask for reasons. ...[I]n connection with giving information to young people, I would dare to offer a recipe: information should be given by the three C's - clearly, concisely, and then changing the subject.

Apart from those virtues connected with temperance, it is good also to emphasize others which have to do with the person's privacy and with is relationships with others. That is why I stress sociability, friendship, respect, and patriotism. These four virtues presuppose being interested in one's own privacy and in the good of other people in a practical way. And it is here that the parents can make their biggest contribution. I refer to the guidance they give their children about how to channel their concern for others into practical acts of service. We should realize that the adolescent by his very nature is idealistic and also needs to have new experiences. If we parents fail to help him, then it is likely that outside influences will misguide him.

Simplicity, because an adolescent needs it if he is to act in accordance with his ideals and to be accepted for what he is.

Roller Ditching Grandpa

Grandpa Nod hit a rock in the road and ditched on his roller blades.

Two years ago he hit a pothole and softened his landing with his face - out cold. This time it's a triple fractured humerus where he jammed the ball of his arm into the shoulder socket.

Doctor says that unless the rotator cuff is damaged, they won't do surgery. He'll have to keep it in a sling for a couple of weeks, and then do some - light - exercises in order to regain his mobility.

Grandpa Nod grew up playing hockey on frozen ponds, skating, and all that, and yes, he wears all the required safety gear. In general the exercise is good for him, but he's had a couple of unlucky accidents. Knowing him, this won't stop his skating once his arm heals.

We're thinking body armor for his birthday ...

Better Ingredients Make ...

... better beer. It's coming.






Golden Naked Oats

[Rebel Brewer] Huskless oat crystal malt. Exotic ingredient for subtle sweet satin nutty difference. Adds a shaving cream like foam and a distinctive creamy mouthfeel to any beer. One of the true "secret" ingredients used by many craft brewers and award winning Homebrewers.

Use up to 15% (or more if you are really into oats)
Avg. Lovibond: 15
Origin: UK


[F&J] Chocolate Malt shares many of the characteristics of Black Malt but because it is roasted for a slightly shorter period of time and end temperatures are not so high, colour is 200° EBC lighter.

This also means that some of the harsher flavours of Black Malt are not so pronounced. It retains a smoky flavour but is far less bitter. Its main uses are in darker beers and it is used in a well known stout, together with roasted barley to produce a more mellow less bitter taste.

CaraMalt is a very low colour Crystal Malt which has an almost completely glassy endosperm. It contains a greater degree of sweetness and stronger caramel flavour than Crystal Malt and the harsher nutty roasted flavours are not present.

It greatly improves body, foam retention and beer stability whilst adding little colour. It has therefore, become very popular in the production of lagers where it is used to assist in enhancing flavour and character. It has also become a common constituent for this reason, in low alcohol lagers.