Thanks to Caroline Furlong for sharing this: ten holy Polish sisters who were martyred by the advancing Red Army in 1945 were Beatified last weekend. The group of Elizabethan martyr-sisters is headed by the youngest of them, Blessed Sister Maria Paschalis (Maria Magdalena) Jahn. She was born on April 7, 1916, the eldest of four … Continue reading Newly Blessed Martyrs
Thought of the Day: Hollywood Friendships
I think the most positive aspect of Hollywood as an industry, in its golden era at least, were the great, intense friendships that sometimes resulted; people like Laurel and Hardy, or Jimmy Stewart and Henry Fonda, or Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing, or Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. The entertainment industry has always been a … Continue reading Thought of the Day: Hollywood Friendships
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
Low Effort Blogging: Party in the CIA
Having committed myself to a deadline, I've got a lot of work to do. So I'll leave you in the capable hands of Weird Al Yankovic and the rockin' military industrial complex. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-CG5w4YwOI "Burn that microfilm buddy, will you? / I'd tell you why but then I'd have to kill you."
Coming Soon: ‘Perseus Corbett and the Forbidden Valley’
I'm excited to announce that my next book is coming out next week! It all started with a kiss… When Perseus Corbett shared his first kiss with young Elizabeth Alban, daughter of Lord Darrow, he vowed that, impossible though it seemed, he would someday become rich enough to marry her. But after many years, a … Continue reading Coming Soon: ‘Perseus Corbett and the Forbidden Valley’
An Inspiring (?) Song
Sometimes, when you're feeling down, a rollicking, inspirational musical number can give you a much needed injection of spirit, telling you that you can do anything. And sometimes...well, sometimes you just want to push as hard as you can in the opposite direction. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29Z9Zr2RC8U Or maybe that's just me, but I think the song is … Continue reading An Inspiring (?) Song
Walt Disney Gets the All Clear
I'm delighted to announce that The Wisdom of Walt Disney paperback edition has been cleared of all wrongdoing and is back up and available to buy on Amazon. Pick up your copy today to see what they didn't want you to see! Apologies to everyone who've been waiting for that update I promised "in a … Continue reading Walt Disney Gets the All Clear
‘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
Poetry: “The Last of the Light Brigade”
There were thirty million English who talked of England's might, There were twenty broken troopers who lacked a bed for the night. They had neither food nor money, they had neither service nor trade; They were only shiftless soldiers, the last of the Light Brigade. They felt that life was fleeting; they knew not that … Continue reading Poetry: “The Last of the Light Brigade”
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?
Serpent's Den 