My annual Halloween piece is up at Catholic Match: If you ever explore some of the old churches in Europe, or look over art from the old days, you’ll notice quite a few skulls. Some of which are even attached to skeletons. They show up in some of the most unexpected places: on clocks, or … Continue reading Memento Mori at Catholic Match
Thoughts
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
Thought of the Day 10 – 12: On Strange Spiritual Fears
I think most of us have strange, unconscious fears. These are things we would never argue or claim out loud, which we're barely even conscious of, but which guide our actions more than we realize. For instance, many people have the idea that if they say "I have never been stung by a wasp," it … Continue reading Thought of the Day 10 – 12: On Strange Spiritual Fears
Talking Climate Change at ‘The Federalist’
Another post is up at The Federalist: in this one I give some reasons why I'm skeptical of what is now called 'Climate Change:' You see, I can’t judge from what I don’t know (e.g., climate science), but I can judge from what I do know. I know something of history, something of philosophy, and something … Continue reading Talking Climate Change at ‘The Federalist’
Catholic Match Piece on Why Fighting is Good For You
My latest piece is up on Catholic Match, wherein I advise people to get into fights: Our Lord says, “Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.” Unfortunately, we have a tendency to confuse ‘peace’ with simply the avoidance of conflict. But there are two ways people avoid conflict; the first is … Continue reading Catholic Match Piece on Why Fighting is Good For You
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
It Came From Rifftrax: ‘How to Keep a Job’
Since I've been preoccupied with job-hunting and related issues lately, I thought this week we'd take a look at Coronet's (yep, them again) film on How to Keep a Job. Meet Ed, an 'ambitious' young man who is laid off from his current job and sets about applying for another one. At his interview, he proceeds … Continue reading It Came From Rifftrax: ‘How to Keep a Job’
Talking Dying Franchises at ‘The Federalist’
First article in a while is up on The Federalist, talking about why dying franchises matter: The imaginative power of Star Wars’s IP has been systematically stripped away into a confused and contradictory mess loaded down with contemporary politics. The simple, yet rich story of the originals (and even of the prequels, for all their faults) … Continue reading Talking Dying Franchises at ‘The Federalist’
Whistling for Dogs at the Everyman
This week at The Everyman, I discuss the 'Dog Whistle' trope: For instance, if a candidate talks about ‘States’ Rights,’ that is a signal to white supremacists that he’s secretly in favor of bringing back segregation, because back in the day segregation was partially justified on the basis of ‘States’ Rights.’ Therefore, any mention of … Continue reading Whistling for Dogs at the Everyman
It Came From Rifftrax: ‘Welcome Back, Norman’
For this week, we have the introduction to one of Rifftrax's most, ah, 'beloved' figures: the one and only Norman Krasner. The best way I can describe the Norman films (of which four have emerged so far) is "Imagine an American take on 'Mr. Bean,' as written by Jean-Paul Sartre." They're about the misadventures of … Continue reading It Came From Rifftrax: ‘Welcome Back, Norman’
Serpent's Den 