I’m rewatching Phineas and Ferb again at the moment and just finished the episode Magic Carpet Ride. During the song sequence, it suddenly occurred to me that this really is a microcosm of just what makes this show so special. It’s that it manages to be both absurdist and sincere at the same time. It … Continue reading A Quick Word on the Beauty of ‘Phineas and Ferb’
Doctor Simon’s Remedy
There was a small town somewhere tucked back among the hills. The people there were much the same as everywhere; some beautiful, some ugly, most rather plain. Several would have been lovely if not for noticeable scars, and all got cuts and abrasions once in a while. One day a traveling doctor rode into town … Continue reading Doctor Simon’s Remedy
Cardinal Virtues Begin on Catholic Match
Over the next few weeks, CatholicMatch will be running a series of articles I wrote on the Cardinal Virtues. The Introduction went up today: When we only have ourselves to consider, we can (and many do) distract ourselves with hedonistic indulgence, with ever more novel and transgressive pleasures, or, failing that, with the bitter delights … Continue reading Cardinal Virtues Begin on Catholic Match
David Warren Gets It
David Warren of Essays in Idleness eloquently says something that has been on my mind for a long time: that most of what we call 'freedom' is really a rejection of freedom. We flatter ourselves, not only by the sins we commit, but by our modern conception of what sin is. We think that we are … Continue reading David Warren Gets It
Thoughts on ‘Gravity Falls’
Gravity Falls is one of those shows that I’d heard raved about from several different quarters as being a very smart, very funny, and very mature kids’ show with a lot of dark, creative imagery. So, when I had some extra time (read: was procrastinating again) I watched through it. My reactions were surprisingly pretty … Continue reading Thoughts on ‘Gravity Falls’
Quick Thoughts on ‘The Big Lebowski’
Last night I finally saw the modern classic The Big Lebowski. It was not good. I admit, I laughed a good deal. And for about the first half I was enjoying it. Then I started to realize that the film wasn't going anywhere. Or, if it was, it wasn't anywhere good. I don't think I've seen such … Continue reading Quick Thoughts on ‘The Big Lebowski’
New Years Specials
There aren't as many good New Year specials as there are Christmas specials, for obvious reasons: New Year just doesn't have the same depth or meaning as Christmas. Still, there've been a few, and two of them particularly come to mind. The first is Happy New Year from Phineas and Ferb: the first episode of the fourth … Continue reading New Years Specials
My Suggestion for a New Years’ Mascot
New Years’ Resolutions at Catholic Match
My latest Catholic Match post is all about New Years' Resolutions (and is largely written to myself): One way or another, we are afraid to change, afraid to set aside what we’ve carried for so long, even though it’s a burden to us. We may genuinely want to make the change, or at least, we may … Continue reading New Years’ Resolutions at Catholic Match
The End of Multiculturalism
The Pagan religions were, in many ways, fine things. Though far more prone to cruelty and depravity than our squeamishly tolerant modern minds like to admit, there was a nobility to them. They were the fumbling, crude efforts of man to render worship to the unknown and hidden powers that govern the universe. From before … Continue reading The End of Multiculturalism
Serpent's Den 