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
History
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?
Friday Flotsam: Jungle Books and Rockefeller
1. Had a depressing and discouraging week. Got a bit of a snaggle tooth, and it’s left me with a tongue sore. Home remedies include chamomile tea and honey, so trying those. 2. Revisited both the original The Jungle Book and the live action remake recently. Quite frankly, I’m still not sure which I think … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Jungle Books and Rockefeller
Friday Flotsam: Verne, History, and Broomsticks
1. Visiting relatives in Maine all this week 2. On the way up, listened to a biography of Jules Verne. It was certainly interesting to get a look into the life of such an important author, though the biographer is rather annoyingly intrusive; his thesis is that Verne is one of the great authors of … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Verne, History, and Broomsticks
Thought of the Day: Making History
Another one of the great truths we miss, thanks to an illusion created by historical accounts (not the same thing as history per se); society ought not be made for the extraordinary, but for the ordinary. The people who end up being written about are generally not the people who make up the general running … Continue reading Thought of the Day: Making History
Victims of Liberalism Day
On this date, the French celebrate the time an angry mob stormed an almost-empty prison that was already slated for demolition, freed four criminals and three lunatics, and burned it to the ground in the name of liberty. Which is to say, the freedom of sufficiently wealthy people to cast votes for one of a … Continue reading Victims of Liberalism Day
Some Timely Music
Considering the time of year and that Victims of Liberalism day is tomorrow, here are a few suitable songs to get us in the mood. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENO1WPYeMdY&ab_channel=God%2CKingandCountry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h89o8kzm4bQ&ab_channel=God%2CKingandCountry (Note the two badges of the Vendee: the Sacred Heart badge on the chest and the white cockade - symbol of Catholic monarchy - on the hat) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zr4n4dJRjVU&ab_channel=AvePatria%21 … Continue reading Some Timely Music
Saint of the Day: Bl. Peter To Rot
Just learned about this very interesting modern Blessed this week. Blessed Peter To Rot (pronounced 'toe-rote') was a catechist on the island of New Britain in Papua New Guinea, the son of the local chief, and a devoted husband and father who worked with the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart to spread the Gospel to … Continue reading Saint of the Day: Bl. Peter To Rot
Low Effort Blogging: The Two Altar Boys
Outsourcing to Brandon Vogt today with this old, but very amusing piece. The post is pretty good, but this anecdote is the best part, reproduced verbatim: The year was 1770, and in a small Italian church, two altar boys prepared for Benediction. Annibale Della Genga and Francesco Castiglioni entered the sacristy, put on their albs, and … Continue reading Low Effort Blogging: The Two Altar Boys
Serpent's Den 