I've started posting daily trivia questions on the Catholic chat channel at work, as a way of making the days pass a little quicker. This, of course, is just in time for me to leave for another job, but that might be just as well: I'm running a little dry on interesting trivia. In any … Continue reading When Presidents Met Popes
History
Almost Missed It
A more cheerful anniversary: September 12, 1683. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxlRJsQ7p2k https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPzCE4HmbGM
A Fitting Clip
All things considered, I don't think there can be a more fitting clip to share today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToECtXPMvNM
Friday Flotsam: Depression, Introspection, and History
1. Last weekend I had one of, if not the worst depressive episode I’ve every experienced, amounting to a full breakdown. I was pretty much riding on the aftershocks for most of the week, hence the lack of postings. 2. My depression doesn’t usually amount to feeling bad about myself; it’s more of feeling intense … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Depression, Introspection, and History
Thoughts on “The Greatest Game Ever Played”
Historically-based sport movies were all the rage for a while in the early 2000s. Off the top of my head you had Remember the Titans (football), Miracle (hockey), Cinderella Man (boxing), Seabiscuit (horse-racing),Invincible (football again), The Rookie (baseball) and I’m sure about a dozen others that I’m forgetting or never saw. Coming in the midst … Continue reading Thoughts on “The Greatest Game Ever Played”
Assumption Proclamation
Should have gone up yesterday. I have a feeling that I might have made the same error last year...oh, well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJcSyaRU0kc "The old world in its sunset was fair to see."
Writing Historical Characters
The film Cinderella Man came up on the Castalia House blog the other day. The film, just so we’re all clear, is the story of James Braddock, a slightly-over-the-hill boxer during the Great Depression whose career had seemed over, until he suddenly returned to the ring with a series of stunning victories, culminating in him … Continue reading Writing Historical Characters
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
George Washington: Deathbed Convert?
So, here's a very interesting rumor, which I've now heard from a couple sources. It is said, among both the Jesuits of Maryland and the descendants of George Washington's slaves, that in his final hours he sent for Father Leonard Neale, S.J, and that he was received into the Catholic Church shortly before his death. … Continue reading George Washington: Deathbed Convert?
Serpent's Den 