Good Morning and Happy Halloween Friends & Digital Neighbors! I went down a rabbit hole this morning looking at vintage Halloween images, poems and advertising this morning. Whatever you have planned for your day, I hope it is one filled with family, friends and the joy of community. I have fond memories of Halloween.
The 70's were a lot of fun with a mix of the old school costumes and the newer masks that went over one's face. I was trying to think of various things I was during my childhood, a black cat, Indian, Frankenstein monster, and a ghost were about all I could come up with as I tried to remember. I was out of the Halloween circuit by the time everyone started dressing up as KISS, Star Wars and the various Halloween, Friday the 13th and other unstoppable killers came about.
It was a very fun time in my childhood and I think I grew to enjoy giving out the candy more than I did going to get it. I saw a lot more costumes once I made that transition. @Dr-Robot made some of the most amazing costumes for his children, hopefully me might be prompted to post some here.
Life is amazing even without costumes and the belief in magic, I hope it is a fun day ahead for you. Happy Halloween my friends!
Today marks the three hundred and thirtieth birthday of the Frenchman François-Marie Arouet, better known by his nom de plume, Voltaire (1694-1778).
Born into a bourgeois family during the reign of Louis XIV, the “Sun King” (r. 1643-1715), Voltaire suffered tragedy at a young age when his mother died. Never close with his father or brother, Voltaire exhibited a rebellious attitude toward authority from his youth. His brilliant mind was fostered in the care of the Society of Jesus, who introduced him to the joys of literature and theater. Despite his later criticisms against the Church, Voltaire, throughout his life, fondly recalled his dedicated Jesuit teachers.
Although he spent time as a civil servant in the French embassy to the Hague, Voltaire’s main love was writing—an endeavor where he excelled in various genres, including poetry, which led to his appointment as the royal court poet for King Louis XV. Widely recognized as one of the greatest French writers, and even hyperbolically referred to by ...
Padre - Tom Miller invites you to a Coffee Talk, Speakeasies, Schmoozes, Tea Times, Afterhours and other gatherings.
https://teams.live.com/meet/93792382189049?p=DiBHsYfuECPgDrG7vO
2026 Coffee Talk with the ADD Irregulars
Thursday, January 1, 2026
6:00 AM - 8:00 AM (CST)
Occurs every day starting 1/1 until 12/31/2027
Coffee Talk - Daily beginning at 6:00 AM Central Time Zone - USA
White Pilled Wednesday - A break from the heaviness of news and current events to focus upon things more personal & positive for the first hour of Coffee Talk.
Afternoon Chats - Most Tuesday, Friday & Sundays 2:00 PM Central
Other chats as posted in the community.
Blessed Sabbath and Saturday, dear digital neighbors across the internet! This morning’s reflection comes from Hans Urs von Balthasar’s collection of aphorisms, The Grain of Wheat. I first encountered von Balthasar in the late ’80s and have appreciated his works ever since—even if they are a bit on the heavier side for my tastes. Still, I’ve always found them worth the effort and patience.
I often think of the gaze of God, especially the day-to-day encounters people had with Jesus. There was a quality to His glance that was immensely welcoming—and perhaps a bit off-putting at the same time. This man—this wanderer, rabbi, miracle worker, and maybe even the Messiah—actually sees me. He gives me His undivided attention and focus. To those longing for deliverance, those eyes brought healing and wholeness. To the fallen angels consumed by their pride, anger, and envy, His glance was terrorizing. They could not stand to see the One they had betrayed and abandoned. His glance made ...
