You may not know it, but apparently the Academy Awards are coming up. Personally, I forgot all about them because…well, they’re pretty much best forgotten at this point. Modern Hollywood giving itself awards for artistry and technical skill is like the Soviet Government announcing canonizations for Sainthood; it means nothing and everyone except maybe the … Continue reading Reflections on the Oscars
Low-Effort Blogging: Bob Newhart
Another low-effort blogging day, I'm outsourcing to the irreplaceable talent of Bob Newhart: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow0lr63y4Mw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlFS-Dlfgkc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7Oh1SI9lbs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaUYQZR-y7I
Comparing Animation, Or What Happened to CG?
Is it just me, or has small-screen animation been deteriorating lately? I happened to see this clip of the Star Wars: Rebels TV show and...my goodness, this animation is pretty darn bad. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJo169NVMTw The characters not only look like they're made of sculpted rubber, but their movements are very, very awkward. There's a kind of … Continue reading Comparing Animation, Or What Happened to CG?
Poetry – “The Dying Christian to His Soul”
Vital spark of heav'nly flame!Quit, O quit this mortal frame:Trembling, hoping, ling'ring, flying,O the pain, the bliss of dying!Cease, fond Nature, cease thy strife,And let me languish into life. Hark! they whisper; angels say,Sister Spirit, come away!What is this absorbs me quite?Steals my senses, shuts my sight,Drowns my spirits, draws my breath?Tell me, my soul, … Continue reading Poetry – “The Dying Christian to His Soul”
Words of the Saints: St. Patrick
From his Confessio: "So be amazed, all you people great and small who fear God! You well-educated people in authority, listen and examine this carefully. Who was it who called one as foolish as I am from the middle of those who are seen to be wise and experienced in law and powerful in speech … Continue reading Words of the Saints: St. Patrick
Reflections on St. Joseph’s Day
Today is the Feast of St. Joseph; the man who taught God to be a man. Wading into the theology and imagery here would be intense work, so I’m going to limit myself to one subject (well, kind of). More and more it seems to me that God works in fractals: patterns repeated all the … Continue reading Reflections on St. Joseph’s Day
Friday Flotsam: Being Sick, Pope, and More Thrawn
1. I caught a bad cold last weekend which knocked me out entirely for two days and now is settling into a general, lingering annoyance. This led me into some very bad days for depression as well, partly because I tried to use the time to write only to find that, one way or another, … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Being Sick, Pope, and More Thrawn
St. Patrick’s Breastplate
The Taming of St. Patrick
Wise tyrants don’t forbid: they tame. An oppressor with a surfeit of honesty or a deficit of cunning will proclaim that the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day is to be forbidden under pain of law in the hopes that the name of Patrick and the fruits of his labor shall eventually be forgotten and the … Continue reading The Taming of St. Patrick
Low-Effort Blogging: Unskippable
Because I'm still sick, I'm doing some extra low-effort blogging right now. In this case, here are some videos of a now-ended series called 'Unskippable', which is basically Mystery Science Theater 3000 for cheesy video game cut-scenes. It was a charming series, with the two laid-back-sounding hosts providing easy-going humor (as I recall, there's very … Continue reading Low-Effort Blogging: Unskippable
Serpent's Den 