I occasionally listen to Ben Shapiro's podcast, which I find--in about equal parts--annoying as hell, very much on-point, and generally literate. (The final point distinguishes him from Dave Rubin, whose heart might be in the right place, but who regularly exposes himself as largely unserious and quite ignorant. The last time I noticed that was… Continue reading Ben Shapiro, Movie Critic?
Category: Truth
QOTD: None Shall Sleep
Story of my life. Still, that's not really the point of today's Quote of the Day: Translated from the Italian, it's Nessun Dorma. And it's an aria from Puccini's Turandot. (I'm not engaging in the proper pronunciations of the work. You can look here for more, or less, clarification, however it suits you.) It's a… Continue reading QOTD: None Shall Sleep
Quote of the Day: “To Love is to be Vulnerable”
Whoops. I missed it. Yesterday, November 29, 2024 was the 126th birthday of one of my favorite writers in all of recorded history, Clive Staples (Jack) Lewis. I've written about him often, even when it wasn't his birthday, but today I'm going to do a bit of a rehash of a post from a few… Continue reading Quote of the Day: “To Love is to be Vulnerable”
Wilful and Politically-Biased Ignorance: The Mainstream Media’s Reportage on Trump’s Picks
I don't need to get into Matt Gaetz or Pete Hegseth territory here. Let's just takes Trump's nominees for FDA Commissioner, CDC Director, and Surgeon General. Let's start with one article: What to know about Trump's picks for CDC, FDA and surgeon general. It's from NPR. Taxpayer-funded broadcasting. Here's another, what PBS has to say… Continue reading Wilful and Politically-Biased Ignorance: The Mainstream Media’s Reportage on Trump’s Picks
Who, or What, Shot J.R.? (Whoever He Was)
My daily dose of history, specifically for November 21, informs me that I should be aware that, 44 years ago today, on November 21, 1980, "Millions tune[d] in to find out who shot J.R." Aside from the fact that I'm not sure that "millions" tune in anymore to find out what's going on anywhere on… Continue reading Who, or What, Shot J.R.? (Whoever He Was)
46 Years Ago Today, in Jonestown, Guyana….
...on November 18, 1978, I was sitting in the little snack bar in the base station of New Hampshire’s Mount Washington (a short mountain, comparatively speaking, but one which has its own set of challenges for climbers), prior to setting out on an expedition with the late Mr. Right, “when our love was young,” as… Continue reading 46 Years Ago Today, in Jonestown, Guyana….
QOTD: “I felt it an honor to serve my country, God and country, same as the rest of them. The only thing, I just didn’t want to take life.”
Blood had run down into the fella's face and eyes. He was laying there just groaning and calling for a medic. I took water from my canteen, got some bandages, and I washed his face. And when that blood was washed from his eyes, his eyes came open. Man, he just lit up. He says,… Continue reading QOTD: “I felt it an honor to serve my country, God and country, same as the rest of them. The only thing, I just didn’t want to take life.”
Quote of the Day: On Fama
It's the Latin word for "rumor," a concept vividly described, perhaps never better, in Book IV of Virgil's Aeneid (this translation by Theodore C. WIlliams): Swift through the Libyan cities Rumor sped. Rumor! What evil can surpass her speed? In movement she grows mighty, and achieves strength and dominion as she swifter flies. small first,… Continue reading Quote of the Day: On Fama
Seventy-Nine Years Ago–Japan Surrenders: The End of World War II. I’m Pretty Sure That Actually Happened. I Even Have the Papers to Prove It.
Somewhere in the stacks of stuff that form my life, are newspapers and magazines reporting the event. The death of Queen Victoria. The ascension of Edward VII, and subsequently of George V. The election of Franklin Roosevelt. George VI's declaration of war on Germany. The marriage of the Princess Elizabeth. The divorce of the Princess… Continue reading Seventy-Nine Years Ago–Japan Surrenders: The End of World War II. I’m Pretty Sure That Actually Happened. I Even Have the Papers to Prove It.
QOTD: “I bear a charmèd life….”
Poor old Macbeth. From Act V, Scene viii (for those of you in Rio Linda, that's Act 5, Scene 8): I bear a charmèd life, which must not yield To one of woman born. It's important that you speak the accented second "e." Otherwise it won't scan. (Iambic pentameter, you know. Thank goodness Macduff is… Continue reading QOTD: “I bear a charmèd life….”