Historically-based sport movies were all the rage for a while in the early 2000s. Off the top of my head you had Remember the Titans (football), Miracle (hockey), Cinderella Man (boxing), Seabiscuit (horse-racing),Invincible (football again), The Rookie (baseball) and I’m sure about a dozen others that I’m forgetting or never saw. Coming in the midst … Continue reading Thoughts on “The Greatest Game Ever Played”
Thoughts
Sunday Thought: On Seeing God
The fact that we can so easily become distracted at prayer is proof of just how inadequate our ideas of God and the Heavenly Court really are. For, of course, if we had even a faint understanding of just what we were dealing with, it would be almost impossible for anything else to have a … Continue reading Sunday Thought: On Seeing God
Friday Flotsam: Job Search Reset, Chesterton Meets Johnson, and a Few Thoughts
1. Another disappointing week as far as job prospects are concerned. A job I really wanted and would love to do turns out to have a relocation requirement that’s likely to make it impractical. Meaning I’m once again back to square one. My life feels a lot like that board game I mentioned a while … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Job Search Reset, Chesterton Meets Johnson, and a Few Thoughts
Friday Flotsam: Mostly About ‘Forbidden Valley’
1. Most important news of course is that Perseus Corbett and the Forbidden Valley is up at last! 2. When you buy the book (as I must assume you will, being readers fond of adventure and romance in darkest jungles full of ancient secrets), you’ll find that I include epigraphs in ever chapter and one … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Mostly About ‘Forbidden Valley’
Writing Historical Characters
The film Cinderella Man came up on the Castalia House blog the other day. The film, just so we’re all clear, is the story of James Braddock, a slightly-over-the-hill boxer during the Great Depression whose career had seemed over, until he suddenly returned to the ring with a series of stunning victories, culminating in him … Continue reading Writing Historical Characters
Friday Flotsam: Mad World Misses
I don’t feel like putting actual work into the Flotsam this Friday. Instead, since It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World came up on work chat this week, I thought I’d do a quick rundown of some of the most notable comedians who weren’t in that film and why. 1. Charlie Chaplin: Had expatriated himself … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Mad World Misses
‘Jaws’ at the Everyman
My latest essay is live at The Everyman, wherein I get to talk about one of my favorite movies and it's take on modern manhood: Brody’s efforts to do his duty as a man and leader are thus stymied by the economic and political interests of the middle-class townsfolk. His job and thus his ability … Continue reading ‘Jaws’ at the Everyman
A New Miracle?
So, it seems there are reports coming in of a new Eucharistic Miracle in Guadalajara, Mexico. The story is that, during Adoration, the Host was seen to beat like a living heart for about thirty seconds. Cell phone cameras captured the event. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mostRiZ2L2M The full report is here. As with all reports of miracles, we … Continue reading A New Miracle?
George Washington: Deathbed Convert?
So, here's a very interesting rumor, which I've now heard from a couple sources. It is said, among both the Jesuits of Maryland and the descendants of George Washington's slaves, that in his final hours he sent for Father Leonard Neale, S.J, and that he was received into the Catholic Church shortly before his death. … Continue reading George Washington: Deathbed Convert?
Friday Flotsam: Jungle Books and Rockefeller
1. Had a depressing and discouraging week. Got a bit of a snaggle tooth, and it’s left me with a tongue sore. Home remedies include chamomile tea and honey, so trying those. 2. Revisited both the original The Jungle Book and the live action remake recently. Quite frankly, I’m still not sure which I think … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Jungle Books and Rockefeller
Serpent's Den 