Reading 1: Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18 The Lord God took Abram outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can. Just so,” he added, “shall your descendants be.” Abram put his faith in the LORD, who credited it to him as an act of righteousness. He then said to him, “I am the … Continue reading Mass Readings: Second Sunday of Lent
Character Alignments, Presidential Style
For President's Day (though I wish we could just celebrate the good Presidents like Washington, Lincoln, and TR rather than having to include losers like Buchanan or Our Glorious Leader).
Alan Rickman RIP
I know I'm late in posting this, but I felt I needed to pay tribute to the great Alan Rickman, who passed away on January 14th after a brief battle with cancer. Mr. Rickman will forever be remembered for two roles that each embedded him firmly in the public conscience as the essence of sinister … Continue reading Alan Rickman RIP
Sunday Readings: Feast of the Holy Family
Reading 1: SIR 3:2-6, 12-14 God sets a father in honor over his children; a mother’s authority he confirms over her sons. Whoever honors his father atones for sins, and preserves himself from them. When he prays, he is heard; he stores up riches who reveres his mother. Whoever honors his father is gladdened … Continue reading Sunday Readings: Feast of the Holy Family
Things I Liked About ‘The Force Awakens’
So, my review of the new Star Wars film comes across little more negative than I intended. I don't think it's a bad film by any stretch; I just didn't find it very engaging. There were, however, several things I did like about it. Here are a selection in no particular order: -The Humor: After … Continue reading Things I Liked About ‘The Force Awakens’
Reviews: Star Wars the Force Awakens
The first thing that struck me as The Force Awakens began was how very different it was from the execrable prequel trilogy. Gone are the interminable politics, the bland, uninteresting storylines, the skin-peelingly bad dialogue, and the over-complicated, over-long plots. Back to straightforward good vs. evil space adventure. The opening crawl lays out what we … Continue reading Reviews: Star Wars the Force Awakens
The Secret to what is Wrong with the Church Today
I've always felt there was something...off about modern Catholicism. Something that made it seem timid and limp-wristed compared to how it had been in past ages. I'd read a lot of people who had agreed with me on that, and suggested various explanations, but none seemed quite to fit. Then I read this article by … Continue reading The Secret to what is Wrong with the Church Today
Kaiju Appreciations; Hedorah (commentary)
So, my next Kaiju Appreciation turned out to be Hedorah, the Smog Monster. It's a little surprising, since Hedorah is one of those characters that I tend to forget about, despite his comparative popularity. Probably because he's only really in one movie, and it's one of the worst of the series (his only other appearance … Continue reading Kaiju Appreciations; Hedorah (commentary)
TCM Remembers and a Tribute to Two Lost Masters
I always enjoy TCM’s in memoriam videos. Well, enjoy might not be the right word, but they’re fitting tributes to those lost in the entertainment world. Retrospectives like this are important: they help us to remember both the achievements of those who’ve gone before us and deserve our respect, and they also remind us of … Continue reading TCM Remembers and a Tribute to Two Lost Masters
Introspection with Statler and Waldorff
One of the great things about the Muppets is that, at their best, they don't shy away from sincere emotion. This clip is a beautifully bittersweet combination of humor, music, and sadness. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ArFSoYHSxs
Serpent's Den 