Beneath the wide expanse of the Northern sky, where the land speaks in hushed tones of a timeless waltz, rural life unfolds—a poetic dance with the earth. This dance, intimate and sacred, cradles the heart in the hands of the heavens, where each rustling leaf and tumbled stone pens its own verse in the earth's endless psalm. Here in the hinterlands, where the air is as crisp as the chorus of the dawn, the symphony of creation plays on, unspoiled.

The Yooper's soul is knit with the rhythms of the wild; with feet planted in the soil, there's a kinship with every stand of birch, every sweep of the mighty pines that herald the sky. The dance is slower here, steps measured not in fleeting heartbeats of city clocks but in the grand, deliberate procession of the seasons. To till the earth is to touch the divine—to live in a world where the masterpiece of creation is not just seen but felt, lived, and breathed.

Now, turn southward to where the city’s heart pulses, a discordant beat that jars the senses. The cityscape—a mire of steel that cages the horizon, where once the wild’s embrace held sway. The air hangs heavy, a veil of smog that suffocates both sky and thought, an affront to the crisp purity of northern zephyrs. The clamor of the urban sprawl drowns out the gentle lullabies of the wilderness, replacing them with a cacophony, a harsh symphony of excess that chokes the spirit.

Beneath the shadow of the great Mackinac, where the waters divide, whispers are carried on the wind—a foreboding tale of those who dwell below, the trolls. These creatures, not of myth but of metal and fume, scuttle beneath the concrete canopies, south of the straits. There, beyond the bridge, lies a realm where the skies are veiled not by the Creator’s hand but by man’s hubris, a land choked by the iron tendrils of progress. The trolls, with their hearts encased in asphalt and spirits smothered by the roar of industry, live estranged from the hymn of the pines, blind to the azure heavens, deaf to the sacred silence of the snow. They are the artisans of discord, the harbingers of a world upturned, where the sanctity of the earth is but a footnote in their tomes of conquest and clamor.

In this urban theatre, the grandeur of the world is reduced to a mere backdrop, a faded tapestry behind the garish neon and concrete that clamber over each other in a grotesque parody of progress. Here, the hand of man has not gently molded but has clawed and scarred the land, an imposition of ugliness upon beauty, a relentless march that roots out the sacred and plants the profane in its stead.

To the Yooper, the city stands as anathema—a twisted visage that turns the stomach, where the whispers of the wild are lost in the din of industry and ambition. The ceaseless rush, the never-sleeping streets, they tell tales of estrangement from nature’s bosom, a self-inflicted exile from the divine pageant that dances on in the quiet country lanes and the untamed forests of the north.

In the end, this contrast is a choice between harmony and dissonance, a meditation on our place within the grander scheme. To dwell in the pastoral quiet is to abide in a sanctum where life’s true melody can be heard, a place where the heart beats in unison with the heavens. And to those who choose the clamor over the chorus, the rush over the rhythm, may the wild's haunting song reach you still, a distant echo, a call to remember and return.

Prayer from Thomas à Kempis' The Imitation of Christ:

Give me, O good Jesus, that hope-filled interior peace that assures me of your grace and makes me faithfully correspond to it. I seek a peace companioned by the spirit of poverty, humility of heart, and freedom from all earthly attachments. Subject my passions to reason, my reason to faith, and my very being to God. Amen.

Map of all North American locations with ≥1000 residents

Anyone want some fondant potatoes?

I've been told that I was wrong about this. Actually, the cheapest, smallest studio apartments in NYC cost $4,000 a month in minimum, not $3000.

In our most recent gathering at The Daily Poor's Book Club, we embarked on an intriguing journey, starting with the introduction to Boethius' seminal work, The Consolation of Philosophy. This initial exploration has set the stage for a deeper engagement with the text in our upcoming meetings.

The introduction alone has opened our eyes to the remarkable life of Boethius – an embodiment of wisdom, virtue, and resilience. His transition from a life of aristocratic privilege to unjust imprisonment and eventual execution offers a profound prelude to the themes we'll explore in the main text. It's a story that resonates deeply with our group's ethos of embracing a simpler, more purposeful life.

Boethius' steadfast commitment to philosophical truth and moral integrity, despite his drastic change in fortunes, inspires us to consider the true meaning of wealth. In a world where material success often overshadows spiritual and intellectual fulfillment, his life stands as a testament to the value of inner riches over external wealth.

As we prepare to delve into the full text of The Consolation of Philosophy, we're reminded of the power of embracing life's simplicities. Boethius’ ability to find solace in philosophy and virtue, even in the throes of personal disaster, offers a compelling narrative that aligns with our pursuit of a life focused less on material accumulation and more on personal and spiritual growth.

Boethius' story is not just a tale of persecution, but also one of resilience and unwavering moral fortitude. His response to adversity lies not in acquiescence to the dominant narrative, nor in harboring any desire to overthrow tyrants, but in alignment with higher truths and principles, and in alignment with God's providence, even under duress. This alignment offers a path to enduring peace and clarity, beyond the vicissitudes of material fortunes, political challenges, and societal acceptance.

This profound realization of where true strength and peace reside – in harmony with divine wisdom and purpose – is a journey towards finding peace in the submission of our will to the perfect will of God, a theme that deeply permeates Boethius' writings.

The introduction has set a tantalizing stage for our next meeting, where we will begin our journey through the main text. It promises not only a deeper understanding of Boethius’ philosophical musings but also a reflection on how these ancient insights can illuminate our modern path towards a life enriched by simplicity, knowledge, and virtue.

In anticipation of our next discussion, let us ponder on the enduring wisdom that Boethius presents – a wisdom that champions the strength of the human spirit and the pursuit of truth, guiding us towards a life that finds richness in what truly matters.

Beef and potato pasties

Reminder: this is the wife a trillion-dollar company gets you 💀💀💀

I'm hunting this weekend and an praying I score, I really want to make elk pot pie