First I have to get this out of the way: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgWr3hNXPhk And this: My main reaction has been simply an appreciation of the storybook quality of the events. Six months ago I would have said that Trump didn't stand a chance in Hell of being re-elected, and that the smartest thing he could have done … Continue reading Wednesday Politics: Post-Election Thoughts
Thoughts
Saturday Flotsam: Hammer Films and Not Much Else
1. My parents are in town visiting, so my schedule (such as it is) is thrown off, hence another Saturday Flotsam 2. I didn't have a lot of chance to get into the Halloween spirit this year, between work and other matters. I did get a chance to revisit Hammer Films' Horror of Dracula, starring … Continue reading Saturday Flotsam: Hammer Films and Not Much Else
Friday Flotsam: Miracles, Art, Anime, Etc.
1. The big takeaway from my history classes this week was the story of St. Patrick engaging in a battle of the miracles against the druids of Ireland, including a memorable incident where the chief druid levitated with the aid of devils, whereupon St. Patrick prayed and sent the guy plumetting to his death. In … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Miracles, Art, Anime, Etc.
Some ‘West Side Story’-Based Immigration Thoughts
My school's going to be doing West Side Story this year for its spring musical, and accordingly I revisited the film version last night (the Robert Wise version, naturally). The story prompted some thoughts. The set up is a retelling of Romeo and Juliet among the street gangs of New York City, with the conflict … Continue reading Some ‘West Side Story’-Based Immigration Thoughts
Friday Flotsam: 5th Century Italy, Manga, and Election Songs
1. Lately I've been learning some about the 5th-7th century in Italy, which is really a criminally under-discussed time period. Most popular histories more or less just jump from "sack of Rome" to "Dark Ages," as if nothing happened in between. But boy, did it ever! Like how we have a rare instance of one … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: 5th Century Italy, Manga, and Election Songs
Friday Flotsam: PT Conferences and Some Other Stuff
1. I had my very first parent-teacher conferences this week. They went pretty well overall; the parents were supportive and engaged, and we had a few fruitful conversations about what their children can do to improve. Though more often I just had to say "yes, Offspring is doing well in my class and not causing … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: PT Conferences and Some Other Stuff
Sunday Thoughts: Imprudent Terms
Owing to a combination of factors (e.g. illness and it's being a lot closer) I went to my 'Novus Ordo alternate' church for Mass this morning. The homily left me with some thoughts. It wasn't a bad homily at all; mostly about marriage and commitment. But at one point the priest made reference to "those … Continue reading Sunday Thoughts: Imprudent Terms
Long-Form Endings (Kind of Spoilers)
My Hero Academia reached its final chapter not long ago and...well, I have to admit, I found it a little disappointing. It's hard to explain why without going into spoilers, but say that I thought the epilogue generally focused on the wrong things and left too many of the really interesting points rushed or unsettled. … Continue reading Long-Form Endings (Kind of Spoilers)
Saturday Flotsam: Various and Generals and Capybara
1. The correct answer to the question "Am I a racist?" is "I don't care." 2. Listening to podcasts about Napoleon from Apostolic Majesty (an excellent and very thorough history channel, by the way). Napoleon, as I think I've mentioned, strikes me as one of the closest examples we've had in history to a genuine … Continue reading Saturday Flotsam: Various and Generals and Capybara
Friday Flotsam: Rand, Tucker, ‘The Crow’
1. Have a much-needed four-day weekend ahead of me. I'm starting to get more into the routine of teaching full-time, at least so that it's less like I'm building a railroad as the train is rolling over it and more like I'm building it as the train is within sight. 2. In my US History … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Rand, Tucker, ‘The Crow’
Serpent's Den 