The Hidden Brain in Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam

 During our recent trip to Rome, I had the chance to see Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam for the second time in person. Standing beneath the magnificent ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, I was overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of it all—the colors, the detail, the breathtaking imagery. Like most visitors, I admired the iconic moment of God reaching out to touch Adam, the spark of life suspended between their fingertips. To me, it was a masterpiece of art and faith, a timeless symbol of humanity’s connection to the divine. But what I didn’t realize at the time was that there’s a hidden layer to this painting, one I had never noticed before—a theory that there’s a human brain hidden in the fresco.

 

I’ll admit, I had never seen it. In fact, it’s one of those things that seems obvious once it’s pointed out, but until then, it’s easy to miss.  When I looked at it again, I couldn’t unsee it. The folds of the fabric, the positioning of the figures, and even the way God’s arm extends all align with features of the brain—the cerebrum, brainstem, and even the folds of the cortex.

 

It blew my mind. Could Michelangelo, one of the greatest artists in history and a known student of human anatomy, have intentionally embedded this in his work? The idea is that God isn’t just giving Adam life in this moment—He’s giving him intellect, creativity, and consciousness. The brain-like structure surrounding God could symbolize that human intellect is as much a divine gift as life itself.

 

For me, this interpretation made the painting even more profound. It’s not just about creation in the physical sense—it’s about the essence of what makes us human. Our thoughts, ideas, and creativity—all of it stemming from the spark of divinity. It’s such a Renaissance idea, blending faith and reason, spirituality and science.

 

Michelangelo wasn’t just an artist; he was a thinker, a Renaissance man in every sense. He must have studied human anatomy in painstaking detail, dissecting cadavers to understand the body and portray it with stunning accuracy in his art. If anyone had the ability—and the audacity—to hide a brain in plain sight, it was Michelangelo.

 

Now, when I look at The Creation of Adam, I see more than just a beautiful image. I see layers of meaning—God as the source of #life, yes, but also as the source of our intellect and creativity. 

 

Discovering this hidden brain theory has given me a new appreciation for Michelangelo’s genius. It’s a reminder that art often holds more than meets the eye, and sometimes, it takes a second look to uncover the deeper truths it wants to share. For me, it’s a testament to the incredible intersection of faith, science, creativity and the endless capacity of the human mind to create, interpret, and imagine.

12,000 babies

 

A briefing from Al Mohler

Yes, Many from the Left Do Support Abortion Up Until Birth: Jen Psaki’s Reign of Untruth on Abortion Continues

But next, as we consider the moral and cultural context in which we live, I want to point to a single tweet or at least a tweet posted on Twitter that is now X. It's by Jen Psaki, the former White House press secretary to President Joe Biden. And it came as she was reacting to some of the words exchanged in the recent Republican presidential nomination debate.

She posted this, "No one supports abortion up until birth." Now, that's all she said in that tweet posted at 8:40 PM on August the 23rd, 2023. It received at least at this point, 1.6 million views. "No one supports abortion up until birth." But that is absolutely untrue. And Jen Psaki has to know what's untrue, but it is at least of a peace with the untrues she and the Biden administration have been telling about abortion now for a number of years. Again, she states, "No one supports abortion up until birth."

Now, let me tell you what she's probably thinking there. She's thinking that she has cover because the national news media won't go after this. They just accept that and nod and just say, "Nothing happening here, move on." But the reality is, that what you have right now is that the posture of the Democratic Party on the issue of abortion has shifted from fighting restrictions on abortion, say restriction by restriction to just arguing pretty straightforwardly, there should be no restrictions on abortion. Now, if there are no restrictions on abortion, that means that abortion indeed should take place or could take place right up until birth.

Now, Jen Psaki says, "No one supports abortion up until birth." But let's put it this way, if you are opposed to every single restriction on abortion up until birth, guess what? You are for the availability of abortion right up until birth. This is a war of words, and she knows it, and the mainstream media will go along with her. Indeed, they did go along with her. Where were those in the mainstream media to cry out and say, "Look, all these democratic candidates, indeed, the orthodoxy, the Democratic Party is to oppose any and all restrictions on abortion, which means that yes, one way or another, abortion will be available right up until the moment of birth."

Now, you say, "Well, look at some of the arguments being made by at least some Democrats, and yet the exemption language and even the legislation that they propose would effectively allow one way or another for abortion to be available right up until birth."

Jen Psaki is also after her service as press secretary of the White House. She's now a host for MSNBC, the more liberal of the cable television networks, and she made a statement in terms of a follow-up to her tweet. She said, "No one supports abortion up until birth." She said just a few days later that that, , "Seemed to really strike a nerve."

But then looking at how this story unfolds, she actually didn't make the case that it never happens. At one point, she said, "Again, this does not happen often, and when it does, you can see how painful this really is through personal stories." She went on to say that, "No one is rooting for late term abortions." And she said, that no one is running on an avowed platform about, "Aborting viable babies." More coverage on that by Miranda Nazzaro at thehill.com.

On her own MSNBC program, Jen Psaki said,, "This claim that Democrats support abortion, up until the moment of birth is entirely misleading." She said, "First of all, abortions past the point of fetal viability do not happen often. They are incredibly rare, and those that happen involve agonizing emotional and ethical decisions." So you notice how this shifts, it shifts from nobody does that, to well, they're only a minority of abortions, and in those cases they're very agonizing situations. But here's where things get very interesting, because Jen Psaki cited a study, and that study actually says a great deal that Jen Psaki didn't want her listeners or viewers to know.

John McCormack writing for National Review sets the issue straight when he says, "Psaki's claim simply isn't true. Contrary to the former White House press secretary's assertion, a majority of late term abortions kill the physically healthy babies of physically healthy mothers." He goes on and says, "Although a baby born at 21 weeks of pregnancy has survived his stay in the neonatal intensive care unit, data suggests that most abortions performed between 20 and 28 weeks of pregnancy are not performed for, 'reasons of fetal anomaly or life endangerment.'" McCormack cites a 2013 study.

Dr. Warren Hern, who's an abortionist in Colorado, was profiled in the Atlantic. McCormack points to this, and he performs only late term abortions. As McCormick explains,, "Killing premature infants in the womb who are 22, 25, even 30 weeks along." As McCormick writes, "Hern admitted that most of the abortions he performs later than 21 weeks target healthy babies of healthy mothers. Abortions that come after devastating medical diagnoses can be easier for some people to understand, but Hern estimates that at least half and sometimes more of the women who come to the clinic do not have these diagnoses. While the baby can be delivered alive in a matter of hours or minutes, the late term abortion procedure that Hern performs, 'takes three or four days.' So it is not a method necessary for saving the life of the mother when the baby can clearly survive out of the womb."

Now, I mentioned the study that Jen Psaki indicated and the report that there's just a fraction of abortions after the point of viability. Now, remember, she said that no one supports abortion all the way up until the moment of birth. She didn't acknowledge that. Simply doesn't admit that there are people who want to deny and prevent any restriction of abortion all the way up until the moment of birth. But even if you just look at the numbers, she basically says they're inconsequential.

McCormack counters that by writing, "Psaki tries to minimize the horror of late term abortions by calling them incredibly rare. According to the Guttmacher Institute, which favors an expansive right to abortion, there are 930,000 abortions performed annually, and 1.3% of abortions are performed at 21 weeks or later." He just does the math. "That equals about 12,000 late-term abortions a year."

So now we've moved from these don't happen to these happen, only under extenuating horrifying medical circumstances to a late-term abortionist saying, "No, at least in more than half of mine, that isn't the case at all." To saying, "It's just a very small number. It is 1.3%." But that amounts to at least 12,000 babies. 12,000 human beings. That's a small town in America. That's what we're talking about annually, in terms of late term abortions.

The abortions that Jen Psaki said basically don't happen, or if they do happen, they're very rare, and if they do happen, they're justified by some kind of medical crisis except the man who's performing the late term abortion says, "Well, that's not actually right." For half, if not more of the abortions he performs at that stage. It's an amazing admission.

Just as a truth telling and rhetorical device, when someone tells you, nobody supports abortion right up until the moment of birth, well just ask them, "Well then, when do you believe abortions should be restricted or outlawed? Under what conditions do you believe abortion should not be legally available?" The fact that they won't and can't answer the question without betraying their position just indicates the big lie behind Jen Psaki statement, that no one supports abortion right up until the moment of birth. Oh, they most certainly do.

Lessons Learned on the Road: The Joys of Travel and Cultural Connection

From the moment Liz and I embarked on our journey of marriage, we vowed

to make our mark on the world by exploring its diverse landscapes, cultures,

and stories. This commitment has led us to countless destinations, each adding

a unique chapter to our adventure repertoire. Recently, a business trip took us to the enchanting land of South Africa, where we delved into the tapestry of its

blended cultures, forged friendships, and discovered profound life lessons. In this

blog post, I'll share how travel has enriched our lives and why we continue

to embrace the transformative power of exploring new horizons.

A Warm Welcome in South Africa

Our South African expedition began with an invitation that would change our

perspective forever. Joff and Tracie Von Reneen, friends through the National Auction

Association opened their home and hearts to us. Like long-lost families,

they introduced us to the vibrant culture of South Africa, treating us to local delicacies,

rich conversations, and even perfect espresso. This immediate connection reminded

us of the beauty of human bonds that can be forged across borders and cultures.

Journeying Through Diversity

Our exploration took us through diverse landscapes, from the bustling streets of Johannesburg to the tranquil expanses of the Welgevonden Game Reserve near the Tropic of Capricorn. The beauty of nature intertwined with the rich tapestry of local cultures, creating a vivid tableau that left us in awe. As we roamed through the Welgevonden Game Reserve, we encountered the majesty of African wildlife in their natural habitat, a humbling reminder of our interconnectedness with the world around us.

A Glimpse of Cape Town's Splendor

No visit to South Africa would be complete without experiencing the iconic beauty of Cape Town. We marveled at the awe-inspiring Table Rock and savored the finest wines in the nearby wine country. The city's vibrant energy and breathtaking landscapes served as a testament to the diverse wonders our world has to offer.

The Art of Making Connections

Reflecting on our travels, one profound lesson stands out – the importance of making genuine connections. Just as our friendship with the Von Reneens blossomed across borders, our interactions with people from different walks of life have expanded our horizons and enriched our understanding of the world. Travel has a unique way of humanizing cultures and allowing us to confront our own realities with newfound honesty.

Embracing Diversity and Celebrating Differences

Stepping outside our comfort zone has also taught us the value of diversity. Meeting people with different backgrounds and perspectives has opened our hearts and minds, encouraging empathy and compassion. Every destination is a new chapter in the book of the world, with its own stories, questions, and conclusions. Embracing these differences has enriched our lives immeasurably.

A Culinary Journey

Exploring the world's cuisines has been a delicious journey in itself. Experiencing local flavors and culinary traditions has broadened our palates and provided a sensory connection to the places we've visited. From savoring exotic spices in South Africa to indulging in special restaurants, our taste buds have become a passport to cultural understanding.

Conclusion: Pack Your Bags and Broaden Your Vision

In the grand tapestry of life, travel emerges as a vibrant thread that weaves together cultures, connections, and personal growth. Our journey to South Africa reinforced our belief that the world is vast, waiting to be explored, and brimming with lessons to impart. Just as each chapter of a book offers a unique perspective, each destination presents an opportunity to expand our horizons, celebrate diversity, and forge lasting connections.

So, I invite you to pack your bags, set forth on your own journey of discovery,

and broaden your vision. The world is an expansive canvas, ready to be painted

with the colors of your experiences, memories, and lessons learned. As we continue

our own voyage, we carry with us the imprints of every place we've touched

and the stories that have touched us in return.

A visit with Dr. Francis Slate

In preparation for our trip to South Africa, I thought I would pay a visit to the former mayor of Mocksville and notable physician, Dr. Francis Slate. He recently celebrated his one-hundredth birthday, which is quite a milestone. I reminded him that he was my surgeon at the Davie County Hospital when I was about four years old. When I told him I was going to South Africa, and more specifically to Johannesburg and Cape Town, his eyes lit up.

Dr. Slate graduated in 1947 from the University of Cape Town medical school which was a six-year course. He received a degree, CHb in surgery. Afterward, he participated in his internship at Cape Town, SA , and then a six months internship in Durban, SA, and then he worked at the Johannesburg Mission Hospital, where he later left to do a one-year stent in the landlocked country of Lesotho, a country surrounded by South Africa. He later found himself at New York University and George Washington University and spent two years with the Veteran's Administration.  Most people in our community know Dr. Slate as Mayor Dr. Francis Slate, serving the town of Mocksville for years as Mayor. 

While we visited, I pulled out the map of South Africa and received an informative tour of the country. He was excited to know we were going to be doing a safari, a trip to the wine country, and a visit to the Cape of Good Hope.

I enjoyed my visit. I shared with him what a good job Mayor Will Marklin was doing and how he was responsible to laying the groundwork for such a great town.

I told him that I would be having a guide the entire trip, Joff Von Reenen, A fellow Auctioneer & friend. He is the lead auctioneer at  High Street Auctions in Johannesburg

It was a great visit. I asked him what one thing he would like to tell the citizens of Mocksville; he said "You need to appreciate the thing you have, the landscapes of our beautiful community, the local government, and the good people of Davie County."

A ride through Europe

Covid got in the way of our 30th anniversary. We had booked a trip to Israel and were planning on taking our children/spouse. The long tunnel that covid seemed to be was never ending and our plans were cancelled. But around May, we booked our trip…this time, just the two of us as Ashton and Ben were into baby mode with the birth of our first grandchild.

Thirty (now 33) years, seemed like a milestone only older people achieved. I have come to realize that age is a perspective. The older you get, the younger the next decade seems. Only this decade comes with 30 year old children and now the title of grandparent. So, yes, grandparents are a young group of people.

I booked us a Viking tour thru the heart of Europe. Starting in Budapest, we have floated on the Danube River and learned about the long history of Hungary, Slovakia, Austria and now Germany.

Three overriding things have captured my thoughts. 

1. The architecture.

The grandeur of both the governmental buildings and even more so the houses of worship are breathtaking. From the details in the stonework to the inlays in the floor; vision, talent, and a creative mind(s) certainly were at work. Many of the structures are 1000’s of years old or older and are still standing. Large gates, epic wooden doors, and granite columns will be forever a reminder of the designers desire to build something that would last more than just a generation. As one example, the Hofburg Royal Palace in Vienna; a 13th century palace built, opened in 1279, with a capacity of 4900 people. All I could think about was how they built this baroque style building with no power equipment or tools. There isn’t just one big palace or cathedral to see in these cities, they are stacked on top of each other. 

2. The gardens

The gardens that made the greatest impression on me were the ones in Salzburg. Designed with a baroque pattern where everything is in excess and built with symmetry. Both the architecture and the gardens are built with equilibrium in mind. It provides a balance to the eye. The colors were amazing. We were here at the end of growing season and were able to see the color of the flowers and the beginning of fall foliage. Perfect timing! The daily temperatures hovered around 6o F. The most impressive gardens we visited were the Mirabell Palace and Gardens. Built and cultivated in 1606 by Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich for his love, Salome. These gardens are known by most Americans whether they realize it or not. This was  the most significant shooting location of the famous Hollywood musical, “The Sound of Music”. As you will recall, Maria and the children dance around the Pegasus fountain located in the gardens in front of the palace. There they were singing “Do Re Mi”.  This American movie about the Von Trapp family is clearly evident in Salzburg. The gardens made me want to go to Lowes and buy more flowers, but I realized it would be fall when we returned.

3. The music

Our first concert was in Vienna and was called the “Mozart” concert. The musicians were amazingly talented. Their love of the music was evident in their performance and as an added bonus we saw a couple ballet dance and another couple sing opera. Mozart’s music called for all the forms of artistry to shine. The next day, we visited and heard the renown Vienna Boy’s Choir. The group “sub”group of singers were from ages 10-14 years old. Not only were they disciplined and polite, they sang beautifully. Music is a significant thread in the fabric of Vienna and Salzburg. They are most proud of Mozart. Born in Salzburg, on Elizabeth’s birthday, January 27, 1756. His story is too significant to pen in this blog, but the overall story is he left Salzburg because of pay and the restrictions given to him by the Roman Catholic church. Elizabeth loves his whimsical and playful style of music composition which can also be quite dramatic. Me? I like Bach who is from Eisenach, Germany, a town we did not visit. 

We are half way finished with this trip. Today we are in Nuremberg, the second largest city in the German State of Bavaria. This city held great significance in Nazi Germany. The Nazi party chose this city as the site for huge Party conventions - Nuremberg rallies. Held in 1927, 1929 and then annually from 1933-1938. The location was the backdrop for Nazi Propaganda and ideals. Later it was the location for war crimes. 

I’m looking forward to today.

Dead at 27

 

A Parable of Modern Technology: Internet Explorer Dies After 27 Years (A blog borrowed from Albert Mohler)

But I'm going to end today noting an obituary.

It's not an obituary for a person, no worry. It's an obituary for a product. And that product was Internet Explorer. It turns out it's dead. Microsoft has killed it.

It announced some time ago that Explorer was no longer going to be supported, but as it is, what was once the most popular internet browser, frankly, the first commonly used internet browser in the world among consumers. It is now no longer supported because it no longer exists. Internet Explorer has died.

Here's another irony for you. One of the signs that Internet Explorer was in decline is that people were using Internet Explorer in order to download other internet browsers, then to abandon Internet Explorer. Now that just shows you something about the obsolescence that comes in all kinds of products, very fast for technological products. But it also reminds you that something that could just be seemingly as essential as well say a piece of furniture in your house, Internet Explorer is now something that well, just to state the issue clearly, most younger people listening to The Briefing today never used and probably never heard of.

Internet Explorer by the way, was released by Microsoft in 1995. But now fast forward, what web browsers are most commonly used? It turns out the Google's Chrome has about 65% of the world's share of the internet browser sector. You follow that, Apple Safari has only 19%. And from there they really fall off. You have Edge, the newer product put out by Microsoft, at about 4%. But that's just a little bit ahead of what had been another big internet browser phenomenon known as Firefox. The Associated Press had it right when it said that "Internet Explorer now joins Blackberry phones, dial up modems and Palm Pilots in the dust bin of tech history." One parable for us all to consider is that dust bin of tech history is growing very high, but also very fast. That's another point about the society around us, at least in terms of technology. And remember technology impacts individual lives and society at large, the pace is now coming with incredible velocity. Today's absolute mainstay can become something that children in just a few years and teenagers have never heard of.

Finally, the problem is that many people think that moral change should be expected just in the same way, just that fast. Moral principles upon which civilization has depended simply thrown into another form of the dust bin of history.

We know better. We better know better.

Al Moher

It's amazing how fast technology and commerce has progressed since I started my business in 1991. When we opened, I didn't have a fax. I remember thinking how advanced we were when I hooked up my new rolled paper fax. Then I bought a huge monitored desk top. Later, a bag phone, then a flip phone, then a laptop, then a Blackberry, later the iPhone. Its a rapid world that we live in and one thing is for sure; It's getting ready to change.... learn, learn, learn. Be an advocate for continued learning.

T. Kyle Swicegood

Go to Music!

Unlike many of my peers growing up, I fell in love with folk and bluegrass. My introduction to Tony Rice was like entering the Graceland of Bluegrass & Folk. 

I grew up going to chicken stews and family reunions where very often there would be a five-string banjo and a guitar and amateur musicians strumming out old fashion tunes. Little did I know that my DNA was being infused with the love for American traditional stringed music. 

My favorite combination was Tony Rice’s interpretation of Canadian music and songwriter Gordon Lightfoot. Lightfoot became successful in folk, folk-rock, and country music. Popularized in the 60s, he is considered one of Canada’s greatest songwriters.  His biographer Nicholas Jennings said, “His name is synonymous with timeless songs about trains and shipwrecks, rivers and highways, lovers and loneliness.”

In 1996, Tony Rice created the album “Tony Rice Sings Gordon Lightfoot” which was a compilation of Gordon Lightfoot written tunes. For me, combining the distinctive baritone voice of Rice and raw guitar talent with the ingenious song skills of Lightfoot created music that ranks #1 in album picks. In an interview, Rice said about Lightfoot, “Every written word had value.”  

Tony Rice Sings Gordon Lightfoot

Even if you’re not a Rice fan or haven’t heard about Lightfoot, I expect you’ll recognize some of the more popular songs written by Lightfoot; like, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" or "Early Morning Rain" which was popularized by Elvis Presley.

If you have never been introduced to folk or bluegrass, I would recommend you give “Tony Rice Sings Gordon Lightfoot” a try. Without question, it’s my number one favorite album. My favorite song on the album is “Shadows. Later, after the 1996 album, Allison Krause provided her interpretation of this piece with Tony Rice playing lead guitar. I have tug-a-warred in my mind whose version is the best….It all depends on my mood. I encourage you to watch these two Youtube versions and come up with your own favorite.