Earlier this month, Rami Khader Ayyad, 32, was abducted and murdered in Gaza City. He ran The Teacher’s Bookshop, the only Christian bookstore in Gaza and part of ministry of the Holy Bible Society. May the Lord deliver the Palestinian people from the hands of murderers.
Quotables from Books, Inq.
Frank Wilson has some good thoughts in these two posts on his blog, Books, Inq.
First, on being Catholic: “One of the benefits of having been raised and educated a Catholic – at least I regard it as a benefit – is the constant awareness of my eventual death that it bestowed upon me and that I have lived with all my life.”
Second, on certain writers: “Most writers and intellectuals hang with other writers and intellectuals and project their parochial outlook onto the rest of society. That explains why so much that is written is such a bummer.” Which means you can drop your New Yorker subscription and pick up some good, non-parochial writing like Relief Journal.
The usefulness of ghosts
After doing my TV review last night, an odd fact occurred to me. My three favorite TV shows just now are “House,” which stars Hugh Laurie (an Englishman doing an American accent), “Pushing Daisies,” which stars Anna Friel (an Englishwoman doing an American accent) and “Chuck,” starring Yvonne Strahovski (an Australian doing an American accent).
I see no significance whatever in this concatenation. But it seems odd.
Speaking of Halloween, I’ve been seeing web posts here and there about ghosts.
I don’t believe in ghosts, but that’s not a disbelief I hold to with the same fervor as I do to the great doctrines of the faith. The only appearance of a ghost in Scripture is in 1 Samuel 28 (the witch of Endor), which has been variously interpreted as a special dispensation from God or a demonic manifestation under God’s control. One way or the other, contacting the dead is unquestionably a forbidden activity.
But I’ve employed ghosts in stories several times. They’re just so darn useful as a plot device. They combine the elements of fear, grief and moral judgment. Shakespeare liked them too, and I’m not sure if he believed in them either.
Anyway, don’t take their use in my books as a statement of belief. I’ve never seen a ghost, or an ancient god, or an elf. I’ve only seen one physical miracle, in fact, and I can explain that one away if I want to. In general I believe in the supernatural in principle, but am skeptical of reported supernatural phenomena in particular cases.
Just for the record.
Great Costume
I’m conflicted about Halloween, probably because I often think of it in these adult terms, but this Japanese skirt looks like a great costume. Of course, some people may ask for candy from you instead of the other way round, but maybe they will offer money in exchange.
Cranach moves
Gene Edward Veith’s Cranach blog has moved out from the World Magazine umbrella, into its own domain, here.
Update your bookmarks.
The Meek, Brown Eyed Maiden
We’ve been talking about women a bit this week, so I submit this Longfellow poem to cap things off. Here’s a portion:
MAIDEN! with the meek, brown eyes,
In whose orbs a shadow lies
Like the dusk in evening skies!
Thou whose locks outshine the sun,
Golden tresses, wreathed in one,
As the braided streamlets run!
…
Bear a lily in thy hand;
Gates of brass cannot withstand
One touch of that magic wand.
from “Maidenhood”
My Top Two for fall
My eyes have been opened to the criminal denial of resources to southern California, caused by George Bush and the war in Iraq.
But why stop there? Washington isn’t the only city wasting precious supplies and manpower that might have helped the impoverished denizens of southern California.
How about Hollywood?
Think of all the people who could have been evacuated in the limousines used by studio executives and movie stars.
Think of the refugees who might have been fed by the catering companies.
Think of the coffee and donuts the gofers could have fetched for the firefighters.
And all those lawyers writing contracts? They could be suing somebody or other for the mental suffering of the homeless.
Dear Heavens, when will the infamy cease?
Speaking of Hollywood, S. T. Karnick at The American Mind tells a story today of a movie actor who seems to have a conscience not dictated by the hive mind of his peers.
Television is also part of Hollywood, and tonight I’d like to give you a list of the Top Two of my favorite new network shows.
My list is restricted to two because I’ve only found two I enjoy. But they’re pretty good, I think.
My favorite is “Pushing Daisies.” You know those Walgreens commercials about “A Town Called Perfect?” The whole show is done in that style, like a children’s book. They even use (apparently) the same narrator.
The main character is Ned (Lee Pace), a pie maker with a supernatural gift. When anything dies, he can bring it back to life by touching it. The drawback is that he has to touch them again and send them back within a minute, or they’ll stay alive and some equivalent life form nearby will drop dead in their place. He makes a side income by helping his friend Emerson (Chi McBride), a private detective. He brings murdered people back to life to name their murderers, and he and Emerson split the reward money.
The complication that produces the show’s drama comes when the girl Ned loves, “Chuck” (Anna Friel, who’s just a delight to watch) is murdered, and Ned brings her back and keeps her alive (a larcenous undertaker drops dead). While Ned is delighted to have Chuck back, he can never touch her, or she’ll die again.
This wonderful plot device permits the writers to give this show an element that has almost disappeared from contemporary drama—romance. Ned and Chuck manage to kiss (through cellophane) and dance (in beekeepers’ suits), but there’s no question of their jumping into bed together. That means you have actual sexual tension here, and a relationship that isn’t consummated in the first episode. This imparts to the whole enterprise an innocence that chimes perfectly with the fairy tale staging. I love this show.
I worry though. I note from Wikipedia that Anna Friel became famous in large part for lesbian scenes and nudity on British television. A supporting character is Kristin Chenoweth, an avowed “liberal” Christian who has a Lisa Minelli-like following in the homosexual community. So I wouldn’t be surprised if they blindside me with a “gay” story one of these weeks.
But until then I’m enchanted.
Speaking of people called Chuck, there’s also a new series called “Chuck.” The concept here isn’t quite as fresh as that of “Pushing Daisies,” but it’s not bad.
Are you old enough to remember “The Avengers?” Remember how intriguing and appealing Mrs. Peel was? Not only gorgeous, but completely capable of taking care of herself when attacked by the vilest enemy spies (as a sexist I should have hated that, but somehow I didn’t when she did it)?
Well, in “Chuck” you’ve got a Mrs. Peel character, a CIA operative, teamed up with an ordinary computer nerd, the titular Chuck. Chuck (Zachary Levi) got a hard drive-full of top secret security information uploaded into his brain (don’t you hate it when that happens?), and Mrs. Peel, er, Sarah Walker (Yvonne Strahovski, She’s not Diana Rigg, but she’ll do) is assigned to babysit him while he continues his ordinary life as a computer tech at a big box store called Buy More.
Of course there’s sparks between Chuck and Sarah, and the romantic tension here comes from his realistic understanding that he is way, way out of his league with her. But there are hints that she’s warming to him, and he’s growing through the dangers he experiences every week.
Great escapist stuff. And about time, too. It’s been a while since there’s been anything this fresh, or this innocent, on TV.
A Lighter Side of the Fire
You’ve seen photos of horrible fires in California, but here’s one a little removed from the flames.
Girls, Girls, Girls
A review of modern culture and modesty. “If he’s pressuring you for sex, he probably doesn’t love you,” no matter what last nights TV show taught you. I hope that become common wisdom soon.
This book looks like a good one. From the review:
Shalit’s book [Girls Gone Mild] has been attacked by one feminist critic for suggesting that the sex act “should have an everlasting warranty of love attached to it.” To the contrary, writes Nona Willis-Aronowitz in the Nation, all girls should realize that sex “is the ultimate risk, a risk that makes human relationships complicated, intoxicating, and wonderful. It is a risk that women are finally allowed to take without being chastised for it.”
Or, as Shalit herself quotes a feminist lawyer barking: “I am very suspicious of telling girls they need to be morally good—that’s sexism right there!”
That’s right, girl. Tell the next generation to follow their hearts, regardless of what’s in their hearts. And kill the offspring so they won’t get in the way. What is life but today’s comfort?
What’s Your Chocolate IQ?
How much do you know about chocolate? Here’s a chocolate quiz. My wife and I got 5/10, so we have plenty to learn.