Olivia de Havilland, star of Gone with the Wind, The Adventures of Robin Hood, and dozens of other classic films, has passed away at the age of 104. She was Errol Flynn's chief leading lady -- they starred in eight films together, including his star-making role Captain Blood -- one of the principle leads of … Continue reading The Last Star has Gone Out
Current Events
Reaction to the News for the Past Month
It would be funny if it weren't getting people killed.
Everyman Corona Thoughts
I offer some of my thoughts on the present insanity at The Everyman: In fact, we are wedded to the idea that any given problem is solvable, and that we – those fortunate enough to be born in the age of science and reason – do not have to put up with what our poor … Continue reading Everyman Corona Thoughts
An Important Video And Certain Questions
The following is a video that more people need to see. From the description: Prof. Dr. med. Sucharit Bhakdi, specialist in microbiology and infection epidemiology, headed the Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene at the University of Mainz for 22 years. He wrote an open letter to the Chancellor with 5 questions that require immediate … Continue reading An Important Video And Certain Questions
The Embodiment of Christendom
On Good Friday, the Archbishop of Paris held a small service in Notre Dame Cathedral, during which the Crown of Thorns was venerated. Only a handful of people were permitted to attend, and one of them, French actress Judith Chemla, concluded the service with the Ave Maria. This, it seems to me, is the embodiment … Continue reading The Embodiment of Christendom
An Architectural Fisk
Dipping a little into politics with this one. Kind of. I recently learned that President Trump has drafted an executive order entitled Making Federal Buildings Beautiful Again. Basically, it orders that “classical and traditional architectural styles” should be the default for constructing new Federal Buildings in the future, specifically saying that styles like ‘brutalism’ and … Continue reading An Architectural Fisk
Saint John Henry Newman
It's rare that we get good news from the Church these days, so cherish it when it comes! Cardinal Newman, the great English convert of the 19th century, whose return to Rome sparked something of a Catholic renaissance in that noble, yet obstinate island kingdom, is now declared a Saint. Cardinal Newman is one of … Continue reading Saint John Henry Newman
Realist Catholic Climate Declaration
WM Briggs, Statistician to the Stars, presents the second draft of what a Catholic Declaration on Climate ought to look like. Short, sweet, and to point: The Magisterium of the Catholic Church has no, and should not have, an official position on the earth’s optimal atmospheric mean temperature, nor on the best rate of change of … Continue reading Realist Catholic Climate Declaration
‘Skillet’ Frontman Preaches Truth
You know, Skillet is already one of my favorite bands, and I don't have many favorite bands (my taste in music generally boils down to "I like this song and that song, and I don't like that one." I don't usually get attached to bands). They've gone up even further in my esteem with frontman John … Continue reading ‘Skillet’ Frontman Preaches Truth
Talking Violence at the Everyman
My latest piece is up at The Everyman, where I share some thoughts on mass shooters and violent crime in general; thoughts that have been percolating one way or another for quite a while. It is this: back in, say, the 1950s there was comparatively little violent crime in the United States. Oh, there was some, … Continue reading Talking Violence at the Everyman
Serpent's Den 