A friend of mine, well-aware of my love for both classical music and the bizarre, recently passed along this fantastic YouTube video. It’s a fellow performing Domenico Scarlatti’s Sonata in F minor (K.386) on a Chapman Stick. My first reaction (and I quote): “What the heck is that thing?” Described by its living creator — how many instruments can say that? — as “a member of the guitar and bass family” and featuring “a full two-handed piano technique applied directly onto... Read more
I’ve always been more of a movie viewer than a television one. I’m not entirely sure why. I flatter myself with the suggestion that I’d rather focus on story arcs than character ones, and that the stories in most hour (or half-hour) TV shows are disconcertingly short. I have a sneaking suspicion that’s more of a case of “speaking disrespectfully of Society only because I can’t get into it,” but self-recrimination has never been a strength. There are exceptions, of... Read more
In the wake of Friday’s tragedy, today’s call to “Rejoice” is a difficult one. But as Deacon Greg reminds us, even that call is shot through with the promise of suffering: “The Lord is near.” He knows what it’s like. And He knows what we need: hope. And He has given it to us. The Passion of His son assures us of this: death doesn’t have the last word. We have been promised eternal life. We live in the hope... Read more
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love. — Psalm 51 Read more
As readers of my “Lens” columns may remember, I am a devout Holmesian. I am also a proud iPad owner, and I love free things. (Yes, I’m American.) Yet I find myself strangely unsettled by today’s “Open Culture” post: The Complete Sherlock Holmes Now Free on the Kindle: It’s surely worth giving you the quick heads up that, starting today, “the complete collection of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes tales, both long and short, have been compiled together for the first time.” Now,... Read more
“Dear friends, I am pleased to get in touch with you through Twitter. Thank you for your generous response. I bless all of you from my heart.” Pope Benedict XVI’s much-anticipated arrival in the Twitterverse this morning caused quite a commotion. And there is doubtless a great deal more to be said in the coming days. I must admit to some puzzlement at his willingness to enter this particular fray in the first place. View image | gettyimages.com Twitter’s an... Read more
One of the many unanticipated consequences of having a large, young family is being forced to recognize that weekends are not for resting. Perhaps it is more accurate to say that it was unanticipated by me, which means we now know exactly where I fall on the “man who desires to get married should know either everything or nothing” scale. But the fact remains: weekends are not for resting. Sometimes, I feel that I’m heading off to work on Monday... Read more
Inspired by yesterday’s celebration in honor of our country’s patroness — Mary, Immaculata — today’s musical selection is “Alma Redemptoris Mater:” Alma Redemptoris Mater, quae pervia caeli porta manes, et stella maris, succurre cadenti, surgere qui curat, populo: tu quae genuisti, natura mirante, tuum sanctum Genitorem, Virgo prius ac posterius, Gabrielis ab ore,sumens illud Ave, peccatorum miserere. Translation: Loving mother of the Redeemer, gate of heaven, star of the sea, assist your people who have fallen yet strive to rise... Read more
As a long-time World War II buff …Actually, that a strange phrase; makes me feel a bit too much like Phil Hartman’s character in Small Soldiers. Let’s start again… As a long-time student of WWII, I expect to spend the next few years of my life at Bombsight.org, which describes itself thusly: The Bomb Sight project is mapping the London WW2 bomb census between 7/10/1940 and 06/06/1941. Previously available only by viewing in the Reading Room at The National Archives, Bomb... Read more
My heart will ne’er be free to push aside the longings I still feel. My eyes will ne’er forget the fields of patchwork green, soft rain so real. In my dreams I keep searching for those paths I never find. By those streams as they ebb and flow, my heart longs to find peace, to still my mind. I have no idea why “To Still My Mind” popped into my head as I stepped through my office door this morning. But... Read more
Summa This, Summa That
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