One thing that helps clean my mind is reading the Classics: Dickens, Twain, Shakespeare, etc. I sometimes need to consult a dictionary with them, but there's nothing wrong with learning new words. Also helpful is decent literature, such as James Herriot, and history from before the age of Political Correctness/Woke.
With the printing press, tremendous amounts of "slop" came gushing forth too, in the form of trashy books and magazines. The key is to develop critical thinking and discretion.
Other helpful things: exercise, nature, socializing, good music, and of course prayer and worship. We're in a major spiritual battle.
The introduction of the iPhone has created a generation of distracted people with limited spatial awareness. Just try walking down the street. The number of people who walk straight into me while sucked into the black mirror. Most will suddenly turn at the last moment to avoid collision, but not all. Attention spans have shrunk. Cognitive ability has declined. But hey, we're all connected now!!
Good for you! I hope you don't have a Samsung or Pixelphone or any other. If you do, I mention the iPhone only as the beginning of the smartphone era, not a brand as such.
I've just finished reading the book of Kenneth Clark's Civilisation series a few years after watching the TV version for the first time. The last 2 chapters struck me where he warns in 1969 that humans are already starting to live for machines. I doubt even he could have envisaged where we'd have ended up by 2026, and I only wish more had heeded his warning.
Frank, I think you should try and meet up or discuss this with Paul Kingsnorth. He's here on Substack writing under The Abbey of Misrule, and has a book Against The Machine, subtitled On the Unmaking of Humanity.
He is Orthodox as opposed to Catholic, but I think you share many common attitudes in life.
I like the terms “black mirror” and “satan’s window.” Setting a timer seems like a step in the right direction. When our grandkids visit, they get limited daily device time (while I am paying bills or buying magnesium online). After a few days their tablets are less of a draw. We do things as a family, including chores.
This article should be taught in schools. The zombie apocalypse is real, although they don't look like those in The Walking Dead. They merely shuffle along, phone in hand, oblivious to the world around them.
As a so called generation X i have as many of my age group on the social media doom spiral, actively become very selective of my intake of information. Instead I take time to make things with my hands, make time to be with my family and I would love to be the person to coin the phrase "Sorry i don't do digital"
"It was once a mark of the educated to be well read. It is now more important to read well, or not at all - because so much of what we now consume is worse for us than nothing."
Excellent comment, Frank.
I used to read a lot ever since I was a kid (I'm almost 50 now). But for the last 10 years the number of books that I read have diminished significantly. Not because I don't time to. But because all new stuff seems to be just Slop.
One of my favorite genres was Sci-Fi. I devoured that stuff even before I reached my teenagehood.
I can't read any contemporary Science Fiction author. They're all shit.
I have to search for less known works by Bradbury, Asimov, Heinlein, etc, whenever I want to read some quality Sci-Fi. And the same applies to all other fiction literature. Interesting detail: I can't find contemporary poets being translated and published in my country. It seems new poetry is dead here.
And don't let me start on the History essays (my field of expertise).
For starters 50% of all History books on the shelves are WW2-related. So, it's Holocaust, Holocaust, Holocaust with a little bit of Holocaust on top.
All the remaining 40% (about Antiquity, Middle-Ages, Modern Age, etc) are mostly Marxist-induced propaganda.
The 10% is true scientific, quality literature. But it's just 10% !!!
In brief, most people nowadays don't even read books. But it's obvious that most of those few who do risk being contaminated by the "Zio-Marxist Goyslop".
Well said. After years of being constantly distracted I've managed to sit still and read. Added to which I have become way more ruthless about ploughing on, regardless...like I owe the author some favour.
But so much contemporary fiction is, as you say, slop. And a large proportion of pop science seems to include autobiographical slop too, history too: "my feelings" to the exclusion of actual facts, always fully within the guardrails and sure to include diversity, climate crisis, and the other plastic words.
Our local library has lots of computers and comfy chairs but books: not so many. And what books there are tend to be scattered into sections, apart from those reserved for the pink covers display.
Frank--I hope you will address how to stay abreast of what's happening--in the church, in the world--while spending less time on the internet. Of late I have been wondering how I can follow the select group of commentators I regard as truthful/helpful without spending so much time on it. You seem massively well informed and it seems it must take many hours a day for you just to keep up. After reading the hot stories of the day, I find myself getting blurry and keep looking for more to read just to get another little hit-- it definitely feels like an addiction.
Thanks for a very timely reminder of this threat. It's so easy to be drawn in by all of the "slop" to which you referred.
I try to be selective in what I read, watch and listen to. For example, I am currently reading, for the first time, "Ivanhoe", written by Sir Walter Scott. Somehow the elegance of the prose and the historical distance of the story makes me more attentive and actively interested.
Your post reassures me that I am not alone, that the threats which you described simply MUST be resisted.
A Russian author called Vadim Zeland is known for his statement that "The language of the Lord is creation", and since creation is diametrically opposed to consumption, we can see the spectre of Satan behind the endless mindless consumption of our times.
Hi Lori, good question. Mary holds a very special place for Catholics, many pray the Rosary daily. In multiple appearances approved by the Church Mary gives messages to aid in our salvation. Mary, according to reputable exorcists is very much feared by demons due to her profound humility. We believe she constantly intercedes for us. One of her many titles is “terror of demons”. Mary was Assumed into Heaven body and soul, she never experienced physical death. Many miracles are attributed to her intercession.
We pray to Mary but worship only God, and of course I pray directly to the Lord.
You may want to do an online search to aid in answering your great question!
Thank you for the explanation. You said above to pray to Mary so still confused when you say you pray directly to God. I am not Catholic so many of these observances are not in my wheelhouse. How do we know Mary was assumed into Heaven? It is not in the Bible. And the verbiage "approved by the Church" when the church is made of mere mortal men.
I have no doubt she casts fear into demons and that is wonderful. I only follow what is in the Bible and much of what Catholics profess is not. Don't mean to be a hemorrhoid or disrepectful. I appreciate your comment nonetheless and helping me to try to understand another's point of view. All the best LittleWing.
What’s plainly going on is blind faith in some human documents by ever changing hands. The “traditions” are traditions. They’re basically no different from any other religious books; books that ppl choose because it’s their religion’s book. The Bible on the other hand is a real, historical compilation of documents that pass the tests of being such. There is no real similarities between the two.
The fact is that the Catholic tradition very often grossly contradicts the Bible’s writings. Generally when inquiring about a plain and obvious contradiction, the answer is that whenever that happens, tradition takes precedent.
The Catholic Faith is based on both Scripture and Tradition. It’s wonderful to see you doing a “deep dive seeking the Truth” and I pray God will guide and bless you in your journey!
We all have our Penny Catechisms, Lori, and we are all “well-versed” (ar ar ar) in explaining and defending them. But the plain fact is that @realCatholics and (especially evangelical) Protestants argue from diametrically opposed base premises, whether it be on ecclesiology, soteriology, theology, and even the acceptable sources of Christian belief and practice. Small wonder, then, that we arrive at diametrically opposed conclusions about things like the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin into heaven, which is settled dogma in @realCatholicChurch, binding on all the faithful but—let’s be honest—an idolatrous abomination to an evangelical Protestant.
This is why I take a dim view of “ecumenical dialogue” (the darling project of the post-V2 soi-disant “Catholic” church) aimed at papering over differences that are fundamental—not peripheral, fundamental—to Christian belief and practice, in an effort to create and project a (to me false) Christian “unity.”
I keep hearing Bob from Chicago talk bullshit like, “What unites us is greater than what divides us.” RUFKM? @realCatholics and Protestants (not to mention Muslims and self-identified Jews) have irreconcilable differences on these matters, and no amount of talking past each other to “make peace” is going to yield anything but fake, wax fruit.
The post-Conciliar church is looking for a ham sandwich up a pig’s ass on a whole range of topics, not just ecumenism; but again, it’s not worth arguing about. I repeat: if you start from different base premises, you end up with different conclusions.
See, all that is too much verbiage. Being Christian is simple and does not need all these different denominations. It is simply accepting Christ, follow His ways. Nothing else is as important. Not Mary, Joseph, the Apostles, nothing else. He told us what to do. It is man that ruins it all and makes religion/denominations stupid and a waste of time and energy.
In the early years of the Catholic Church the word Christian was synonymous with Catholic. Today the words Christian and Catholic are no longer synonymous. Due to a false “ecumenism” deception and confusion now abound. Jesus Christ instituted a Catholic Church with seven Sacraments for a reason. There was a time Catholics could receive these Sacraments with reasonable confidence that they were both valid and licit, but no longer, due to apostasy from the top.
The amount of multitasking, skimming, and instant responses that so many jobs require today can frazzle one's brain all on its own. So even our work requires conscious detoxing.
Add to that life after work, and we really need to make a concentrated effort to detach from the internet.
No wonder so many people today seem like they are robots when you talk to them....
1) Desires (trace a vertical line with Holy Water or Lourdes Water on your forehead)
2) Thoughts (trace half horizontal line on your forehead)
3) Words (say while tracing when the horizontal intersects with the vertical, imaging the Word of God Made Flesh)
4) and Actions (while tracing the last half of the horizontal line)
of this day.”
This is a simple, yet powerful prayer that employs a sacramental. It is also a prayer parents can pray over their children while tracing their foreheads with the Sign of the Cross. The child can give a simple “Amen”
For me, beginning with CORE DESIRES seems so foundational and is often overlooked. My personal core desire foundation is to always be able to help God Our Father.
One thing that helps clean my mind is reading the Classics: Dickens, Twain, Shakespeare, etc. I sometimes need to consult a dictionary with them, but there's nothing wrong with learning new words. Also helpful is decent literature, such as James Herriot, and history from before the age of Political Correctness/Woke.
With the printing press, tremendous amounts of "slop" came gushing forth too, in the form of trashy books and magazines. The key is to develop critical thinking and discretion.
Other helpful things: exercise, nature, socializing, good music, and of course prayer and worship. We're in a major spiritual battle.
The introduction of the iPhone has created a generation of distracted people with limited spatial awareness. Just try walking down the street. The number of people who walk straight into me while sucked into the black mirror. Most will suddenly turn at the last moment to avoid collision, but not all. Attention spans have shrunk. Cognitive ability has declined. But hey, we're all connected now!!
Don't have an iphone!
Good for you! I hope you don't have a Samsung or Pixelphone or any other. If you do, I mention the iPhone only as the beginning of the smartphone era, not a brand as such.
Thanks Navyo.
I've just finished reading the book of Kenneth Clark's Civilisation series a few years after watching the TV version for the first time. The last 2 chapters struck me where he warns in 1969 that humans are already starting to live for machines. I doubt even he could have envisaged where we'd have ended up by 2026, and I only wish more had heeded his warning.
Frank, I think you should try and meet up or discuss this with Paul Kingsnorth. He's here on Substack writing under The Abbey of Misrule, and has a book Against The Machine, subtitled On the Unmaking of Humanity.
He is Orthodox as opposed to Catholic, but I think you share many common attitudes in life.
I concur wholeheartedly.
I like the terms “black mirror” and “satan’s window.” Setting a timer seems like a step in the right direction. When our grandkids visit, they get limited daily device time (while I am paying bills or buying magnesium online). After a few days their tablets are less of a draw. We do things as a family, including chores.
This article should be taught in schools. The zombie apocalypse is real, although they don't look like those in The Walking Dead. They merely shuffle along, phone in hand, oblivious to the world around them.
Funny fact:
In my country I don't see younger kids addicted to their phones as much as the older ones.
Kids between 18 and 25 are usually chatting with each other and doing stuff together.
While the older people (aged between 25 and 70) are totally possessed by their smartphones. Interesting turn of events.
Sure, I can still see plenty of children and teens fixed on their phones. But they're either just playing games or texting each other.
It's the Millenials, GenXers and Boomers who spend their time "doomscrolling" and watching shitty videos online.
As a so called generation X i have as many of my age group on the social media doom spiral, actively become very selective of my intake of information. Instead I take time to make things with my hands, make time to be with my family and I would love to be the person to coin the phrase "Sorry i don't do digital"
Truth x....
"It was once a mark of the educated to be well read. It is now more important to read well, or not at all - because so much of what we now consume is worse for us than nothing."
Excellent comment, Frank.
I used to read a lot ever since I was a kid (I'm almost 50 now). But for the last 10 years the number of books that I read have diminished significantly. Not because I don't time to. But because all new stuff seems to be just Slop.
One of my favorite genres was Sci-Fi. I devoured that stuff even before I reached my teenagehood.
I can't read any contemporary Science Fiction author. They're all shit.
I have to search for less known works by Bradbury, Asimov, Heinlein, etc, whenever I want to read some quality Sci-Fi. And the same applies to all other fiction literature. Interesting detail: I can't find contemporary poets being translated and published in my country. It seems new poetry is dead here.
And don't let me start on the History essays (my field of expertise).
For starters 50% of all History books on the shelves are WW2-related. So, it's Holocaust, Holocaust, Holocaust with a little bit of Holocaust on top.
All the remaining 40% (about Antiquity, Middle-Ages, Modern Age, etc) are mostly Marxist-induced propaganda.
The 10% is true scientific, quality literature. But it's just 10% !!!
In brief, most people nowadays don't even read books. But it's obvious that most of those few who do risk being contaminated by the "Zio-Marxist Goyslop".
Well said. After years of being constantly distracted I've managed to sit still and read. Added to which I have become way more ruthless about ploughing on, regardless...like I owe the author some favour.
But so much contemporary fiction is, as you say, slop. And a large proportion of pop science seems to include autobiographical slop too, history too: "my feelings" to the exclusion of actual facts, always fully within the guardrails and sure to include diversity, climate crisis, and the other plastic words.
Our local library has lots of computers and comfy chairs but books: not so many. And what books there are tend to be scattered into sections, apart from those reserved for the pink covers display.
Amen !
Frank--I hope you will address how to stay abreast of what's happening--in the church, in the world--while spending less time on the internet. Of late I have been wondering how I can follow the select group of commentators I regard as truthful/helpful without spending so much time on it. You seem massively well informed and it seems it must take many hours a day for you just to keep up. After reading the hot stories of the day, I find myself getting blurry and keep looking for more to read just to get another little hit-- it definitely feels like an addiction.
Butlerian Jihad Now!
I was radicalised by Microsoft Updates
Thanks for a very timely reminder of this threat. It's so easy to be drawn in by all of the "slop" to which you referred.
I try to be selective in what I read, watch and listen to. For example, I am currently reading, for the first time, "Ivanhoe", written by Sir Walter Scott. Somehow the elegance of the prose and the historical distance of the story makes me more attentive and actively interested.
Your post reassures me that I am not alone, that the threats which you described simply MUST be resisted.
That is Saint Michael at the end😏. Saint George does not have wings 😇but they do fight the same dragon 🐉 so the story stands.
A Russian author called Vadim Zeland is known for his statement that "The language of the Lord is creation", and since creation is diametrically opposed to consumption, we can see the spectre of Satan behind the endless mindless consumption of our times.
Hi Lori, good question. Mary holds a very special place for Catholics, many pray the Rosary daily. In multiple appearances approved by the Church Mary gives messages to aid in our salvation. Mary, according to reputable exorcists is very much feared by demons due to her profound humility. We believe she constantly intercedes for us. One of her many titles is “terror of demons”. Mary was Assumed into Heaven body and soul, she never experienced physical death. Many miracles are attributed to her intercession.
We pray to Mary but worship only God, and of course I pray directly to the Lord.
You may want to do an online search to aid in answering your great question!
Thank you for the explanation. You said above to pray to Mary so still confused when you say you pray directly to God. I am not Catholic so many of these observances are not in my wheelhouse. How do we know Mary was assumed into Heaven? It is not in the Bible. And the verbiage "approved by the Church" when the church is made of mere mortal men.
I have no doubt she casts fear into demons and that is wonderful. I only follow what is in the Bible and much of what Catholics profess is not. Don't mean to be a hemorrhoid or disrepectful. I appreciate your comment nonetheless and helping me to try to understand another's point of view. All the best LittleWing.
What’s plainly going on is blind faith in some human documents by ever changing hands. The “traditions” are traditions. They’re basically no different from any other religious books; books that ppl choose because it’s their religion’s book. The Bible on the other hand is a real, historical compilation of documents that pass the tests of being such. There is no real similarities between the two.
The fact is that the Catholic tradition very often grossly contradicts the Bible’s writings. Generally when inquiring about a plain and obvious contradiction, the answer is that whenever that happens, tradition takes precedent.
Agreed.
The Catholic Faith is based on both Scripture and Tradition. It’s wonderful to see you doing a “deep dive seeking the Truth” and I pray God will guide and bless you in your journey!
We all have our Penny Catechisms, Lori, and we are all “well-versed” (ar ar ar) in explaining and defending them. But the plain fact is that @realCatholics and (especially evangelical) Protestants argue from diametrically opposed base premises, whether it be on ecclesiology, soteriology, theology, and even the acceptable sources of Christian belief and practice. Small wonder, then, that we arrive at diametrically opposed conclusions about things like the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin into heaven, which is settled dogma in @realCatholicChurch, binding on all the faithful but—let’s be honest—an idolatrous abomination to an evangelical Protestant.
This is why I take a dim view of “ecumenical dialogue” (the darling project of the post-V2 soi-disant “Catholic” church) aimed at papering over differences that are fundamental—not peripheral, fundamental—to Christian belief and practice, in an effort to create and project a (to me false) Christian “unity.”
I keep hearing Bob from Chicago talk bullshit like, “What unites us is greater than what divides us.” RUFKM? @realCatholics and Protestants (not to mention Muslims and self-identified Jews) have irreconcilable differences on these matters, and no amount of talking past each other to “make peace” is going to yield anything but fake, wax fruit.
The post-Conciliar church is looking for a ham sandwich up a pig’s ass on a whole range of topics, not just ecumenism; but again, it’s not worth arguing about. I repeat: if you start from different base premises, you end up with different conclusions.
But hey, I'm just one guy. I could be wrong.
See, all that is too much verbiage. Being Christian is simple and does not need all these different denominations. It is simply accepting Christ, follow His ways. Nothing else is as important. Not Mary, Joseph, the Apostles, nothing else. He told us what to do. It is man that ruins it all and makes religion/denominations stupid and a waste of time and energy.
July 31, 2026
In the early years of the Catholic Church the word Christian was synonymous with Catholic. Today the words Christian and Catholic are no longer synonymous. Due to a false “ecumenism” deception and confusion now abound. Jesus Christ instituted a Catholic Church with seven Sacraments for a reason. There was a time Catholics could receive these Sacraments with reasonable confidence that they were both valid and licit, but no longer, due to apostasy from the top.
Most Holy Trinity I trust in You!
This really hits home!!
The amount of multitasking, skimming, and instant responses that so many jobs require today can frazzle one's brain all on its own. So even our work requires conscious detoxing.
Add to that life after work, and we really need to make a concentrated effort to detach from the internet.
No wonder so many people today seem like they are robots when you talk to them....
July 24, 2026
Thoughts, Words, Actions
but all based on DESIRES?
Here’s a quick connection to your core:
Pray, “Blessed Virgin Mary, please direct my
1) Desires (trace a vertical line with Holy Water or Lourdes Water on your forehead)
2) Thoughts (trace half horizontal line on your forehead)
3) Words (say while tracing when the horizontal intersects with the vertical, imaging the Word of God Made Flesh)
4) and Actions (while tracing the last half of the horizontal line)
of this day.”
This is a simple, yet powerful prayer that employs a sacramental. It is also a prayer parents can pray over their children while tracing their foreheads with the Sign of the Cross. The child can give a simple “Amen”
For me, beginning with CORE DESIRES seems so foundational and is often overlooked. My personal core desire foundation is to always be able to help God Our Father.
Why do you pray to Mary when you can access the Lord directly?
In answer to Lori, great question, my answer appears below further down. Somehow it was displaced?