South of the Blogwatch,

Down Mexico way,

That’s where he fell in love, when stars above

Came out to play…

Johnny Bacardi: Another “comics you must read” list, focusing on lesser-known lights. I’ll definitely be checking some of these out. As far as Love & Rockets goes, though, my picks would probably be “Poison River,” “Blood of Palomar,” “Flies on the Ceiling,” “Chester Square,” “Wigwam Bam,” “The Death of Speedy,” in very very roughly that order.

God of the Machine: Truly fascinating post on Thomas Nashe, “brightness falls from the air,” and whether contemporary poetry has lost the ability to argue. I don’t rightly know, but I’ll propose a possible counterexample–a 20th-c. poet who often proceeded by syllogism at least as much as by coherence of feeling: Philip Larkin. Thoughts?

Amy Welborn: “So, since [Andrew] Sullivan’s going to do some reflecting over the month of August, let’s presume to help him out? What should he–and others in the same boat, for various reasons–read and think about? What’s helped you as you come up against the conflict between your own desires and the teachings of Christ?” For me, it generally hasn’t been reading (except insofar as I derived a broader sense of the tie between honor and sacrifice from things I’ve read). What’s helped me is running into particular people–people I’ve met, like the guy from Courage who gave me one of the most vivid, inspiring mini-speeches on the Eucharist I’ve ever heard; saints’ lives; and, obviously, reflecting on the Passion. So I guess I’d just recommend Eucharistic adoration, prayer, and meditation on the Passion and Cross.

And you have probably already seen Chris “Junius” Bertram’s interview with Michael Walzer, but if you haven’t, there it is. Haven’t finished yet but it’s definitely worthwhile so far.

…The mission bells told him

That he mustn’t stay

South of the Blogwatch,

Down Mexico way.

Ay-yi-yi-yi… ay-yi-yi-yi…