After seventeen years, you think you have heard all the stories, but I heard a new one this evening. Not especially Christmas-y, but I know at least a few of you who will appreciate the hell out of this. My husband’s grandfather was Steve Fisher, a pulp novelist and Hollywood screenwriter and producer. Back in the 40’s, he’s writing the screen adaptation of Raymond Chandler’s Lady in the Lake and finds himself stumped, trying to figure out certain aspects of... Read more
I assume you’re already doing all the religious stuff, and have already bought, made, figured out, or given up on gifts. Here are a bunch of other nice Christmasy things you can do pretty easily, using materials that you may actually have in your house and skills you can probably muster up even at this stage of your life. SOMETHING SWEET TO EAT: Fudge recipe that doesn’t require a candy thermometer. Can be dressed up with various nuts, crushed candies, flavored... Read more
I’d love to put together a gallery of Christmas art for the Register on Christmas day. If you have a photo of a work of original art you’d be willing to share (and if you own the copyright or have permission to share online!), please drop me a line at simchafisher[at]gmail[dot]com and write “Christmas art” for the subject. I try to keep the wordiness to a minimum on Christmas, so this will just be an image and, if you like, a link... Read more
Well, one chapter of it, anyway. This is so dang stupid. Right before supper, FedEx delivers a box of ten copies of Catholic and Married: Leaning Into Love , which looks good, but I have never heard of it, and I certainly didn’t order ten copies. So I fire off a note to the publisher, saying that I think I got the author’s shipment by mistake, and what should I do with them? Ha ha, I says to myself, I’m not the only one... Read more
We don’t want to convey to our kids that love can be bought on Amazon; but we also shouldn’t try to persuade them that love is some kind of nebulous, moonshiny, spiritual quality that has very little to do with their everyday experiences. Rather than turning Christmas into a story about God vs. Happiness, the trick is to turn love and giving into part of one seamless idea. Read the rest at the Register. Read more
Reviewer Christine Emba says in First Things: What especially recommends The Sinner’s Guide to a broader audience is Fisher’s ability to use NFP as a starting point to engage with the larger and more universal questions facing anyone attempting to live out a Christian life day to day. What is prudence? How does one persevere in adversity? What does charity actually look like in relationships, and in daily life? As Fisher asks, “Does God just hate women, or what?” The question “Is it... Read more
Breaking news from the Boston Globe: a federal appeals court has overturned a district court’s 2012 ruling that Massachusetts inamate Michelle Kosilek’s gender identity disorder must be treated with gender reassignment surgery. The appeals court said Tuesday it had been asked to determine whether denying Kosilek the surgery constituted cruel and unusual punishment, which is banned by the Eighth Amendment. The appeals court said: “After carefully considering the community standard of medical care, the adequacy of the provided treatment, and the valid security concerns... Read more
Sometimes we all need some clarity {PIC} “That should clear up a few things around here!” And sometimes, our mothers are just glad we’re staying in one place for a few minutes. Read more
Christmas is the infancy of the Faith, and most people find it pretty easy to be happy about about their Faith at this time of year — at least in the good moments. Even when the season is stressful or exhausting, most of us at least occasionally taste those golden moments where the music is right, the candles are glowing, we’re finally holding a mug of something hot, finally hearing the happy murmurs of the baby in the manger. At the best moments,... Read more
Is it my imagination, or is the Catholic internet just bristling with lists of gift ideas for men this year? Are there suggestion lists like this for women’s gifts? Is it my silly little lady imagination going all kookie again, or is it actually fairly easy to buy presents for women? Of course it’s possible to go astray, but most women will tell you exactly what they want, if you ask them. Then what you do is you go out and buy or make or get... Read more
I Have to Sit Down
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