As a participant in The Da Vinci Challenge, I was invited to an advanced screening of the much anticipated, much hyped, movie version of Dan Brown’s bonkers-selling book. I don’t usually go to movies. Don’t watch television. Don’t have Cable. Just plain don’t get out much. So when a free offer pops up … hey. Why not? I’d reluctantly read the book. I’d written several review installments. I’d even taught a semester long Adult Ed Class on the fallacies of... Read more

In all honesty, especially since my mother sometimes reads this blog, I must admit: Most of the snarkier teachings (below) I actually learned from my father. This list comes courtesy of a FWD from my wife. Enjoy! THINGS MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME …1. TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.“If you’re going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.” 2. RELIGION.“You better pray that will come out of the carpet.” 3. TIME TRAVEL.“If you don’t straighten up,... Read more

“I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s wrong to be queer, but that’s a long story. Oh, the reasons are comparatively simple. In the first place, all homosexual acts are acts of envy. In the second, the more you’re involved with someone, the more trouble arises, and affection shouldn’t result in that. It shows something’s wrong somewhere.” More. Oh, and about the picture on “HOMOPHOBIA” …? Mollie explains it. Peggy Noonan, after writing about President Bush’s failure and his use... Read more

Asked whether his wife Rita Wilson, who comes from a Greek Orthodox background, had any qualms about a story that has been condemned from Greek churches, he said: “No, absolutely not. My heritage, and that of my wife, suggests that our sins have been taken away, not our brains.” More. Read more

Oh my! Please forgive me, but this is kinda cool … ‘I wish there were some way to get a bunch of like-minded people together [at the movie theater] and get them to mock the living daylights out of this: dress up for it, like albino monks and Spanish Inquisition cardinals; at every mention of the eeevil Vatican, cheer loudly and give them a chorus of God Bless Our Pope; loud booing when the heroes are mentioned; when the infamous... Read more

Today marks the half way point on our journey from Pascha to Pentecost. So, let us cry: Christ is Risen from the dead, trampling down death by Death … and upon those in the tombs bestowing Life! Now, here’s the news … KIEV (The Birthplace of Russian Orthodoxy) – As “Pastor Sunday” prepared to make a grand entrance, the choirgirls shook their pompoms, the disco lights started to flash and a fanfare sounded. The lights cut out, and Mr Adelaja... Read more

To my knowledge, the only thing good about the movie Howard the Duck is that it was the first movie-date for me and my wife. Now another Howard, Ron, directs the movie adaptation of Dan Brown’s bestseller. Tonight’s opening at the film festival reads like The Producers gone right. Wouldn’t it be great, really, if the movie flopped? Now that’s a novel idea! Not holding my breath, but here’s what I mean … Variety HT: Dawn More And again. HT:... Read more

Pat Buchanan on Da Movie:Putting “The Da Vinci Code” on film, with what it alleges about the Catholic Church, is the moral equivalent of making a movie based on the “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion” and implying this is the truth about the Jewish plot to control the world. One imagines Ron Howard and Tom Hanks would take a pass on that script. Like the “Hitler’s Pope” smear of Pius XII, a man who did more than any... Read more

Thanks to dnb Productions, I have a new PR pic for the book campaign. See sidebar. And I mean it: No comments! 🙂 Speaking of pics … Here’s one of the raising of the Cross on the site of the new building for St Anthony Church in Spring this past Saturday. Read more

Today, grabbing a bite to eat in a food court, I passed by a kiosk selling snarky “Christian” t-shirts. I was too flabbergasted to pause. Besides, I was dressed as a priest and, gosh, it was just sooo, so, uhll … From memory … One shirt had a huge cross on it with the caption, “I killed your God.” (I didn’t get to read further.) One said (I kid you not): “Get Stoned Like Paul” One even read: “Heavy Drinker... Read more