I have not been blogging lately in part because I've been simultaneously preoccupied with what is happening in our country and desirous of avoiding exposure to it as much as possible. Even small dips left me so angry as to be nauseous. But through one or two trusted sources (there are only a handful of … Continue reading Brief Current Events Thought
Thoughts
It’s a Pastel Life
This year, due to circumstances beyond my control, we had the colorized version of It's a Wonderful Life for our yearly viewing. I'd never actually seen that version before (which James Stewart famously said he couldn't stand even to watch), so it was at least instructive. Well, I didn't find it unwatchable, since with a … Continue reading It’s a Pastel Life
The Servant Question
It is my opinion that it’s a great pity that our servants are now machines rather than people, and I think it is those who were servants who suffer the most from it. Because, of course, a man suited to be a servant does not cease to be that kind of man when there are … Continue reading The Servant Question
Forgotten Man at the Everyman
My latest post is up at 'The Everyman,' where I touch a bit on the present attempted coup. Law has no force of its own. It only has what it is given by those in charge of enforcing it, whether directly (in courts and legislatures) or indirectly (through public opinion). At the end of the … Continue reading Forgotten Man at the Everyman
“If I’d Lived Back Then…”
"If I'd lived back then, I would be so up in arms about slavery..." No you wouldn't. You would have said that slavery was the best thing for the Africans, pointing to the comparison of how they lived in Africa versus how they live in America. You would have said that most slave holders treat … Continue reading “If I’d Lived Back Then…”
Sunday Thoughts: Preparing to Prepare
I am not going to talk about the election. What will happen is completely out of my power to influence and I don't think my, what, five readers have much influence either, or particularly care what I have to say on the subject. There was a surprisingly good homily at Mass today (my present situation … Continue reading Sunday Thoughts: Preparing to Prepare
Fear of Death
“When you remove, like even in the schools, you remove prayer, you remove God, you remove the fear of God, you create the possibility of the fear of everything else. But watch this: If you instill the fear of God, you eliminate the fear of anything else!”https://mobile.twitter.com/zhenryaz/status/1320102253865308161 I know nothing of Kanye West, but if … Continue reading Fear of Death
All Saints
The doctrine of the Communion of Saints is rather simple. It's that Christians don't leave the Church when they die. The work they began in this life doesn't end when they enter the next. We have a perspective problem in this life. In fact, it's very like being in high school (our education system has … Continue reading All Saints
Brief Thoughts on ‘The Shining’
Last night I watched The Shining for the first time with my family. Though obviously I’ve been familiar with it for a long time and I’ve seen many clips of it (which, unfortunately, meant that I kind of went in knowing more or less what was going to happen). Quick take: it’s pretty good. I … Continue reading Brief Thoughts on ‘The Shining’
RIP Sir Sean Connery
This is a big one, and a long time coming. Sir Sean Connery, the definitive James Bond and elder statesman actor for a generation has gone to his reward at the age of 90. "Goodbye, Mr. Bond" Sir Sean was an interesting figure on screen: one of the old school of actors who came from … Continue reading RIP Sir Sean Connery