One of the books which inspired The Grand Budapest Hotel. I just began it this morning for the third time in as many years.
Foundational
Undone
Not since Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go has a work of modern fiction broken my heart so meticulously.
On Hypocrisy
The teacher to the student: Can you not write a single paragraph without becoming bored and checking your phone?
The student to the teacher: Can you not grade a single essay without becoming bored and checking your phone?
Modern Politics
The really delightful thing about so many people running for president is the great bounty of schadenfreude we may enjoy when almost all of them lose.
Sublime
Proverbial, Episode 18: The Joke’s On You
When I’m depressed, I watch standup comedy. I watch it alone. I don’t laugh. When it is over, I feel better.
The latest episode of Proverbial is about jokes, why jokes are offensive, and why you need to be offended every now again.
My Child Is A Theoflect
While it chagrins me to say so, I have my doubts this recent piece for CiRCE will be understood as satire.
Sunday Morning Catechism With My Daughters
Every week, on the drive to Church.
Q: Where are we going?
A: To Church.
Q: Where is Church?
A: In Heaven.
Q: When is Church?
A: The end of time.
Q: Who will we see at Church?
A: Mary, Jesus, the martyrs, the saints, the apostles, and the prophets.
Q: Who are the apostles?
A: Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James, Thaddeus, Simon, Judas, Matthias
Q: What are the virtues?
A: Faith, hope, love, wisdom, justice, courage, temperance
Q: What are the spheres?
A: Earth, air, fire, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Stellatum, Primum Mobile, Empyrean
Q: What are the fruits of the Spirit?
A: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Q: Where does God live?
A: Everywhere.
Q: When does God live?
A: Every time.
Q: What does God know?
A: Everything.
Q: How good is God?
A: All good.
Q: What is the most important thing you do all week?
A: Take the body and blood of Jesus.
Q: Is it more important than school?
A: Yes.
Q: Is the bread and the wine kind of like the body and blood of Jesus or is it actually the body and blood of Jesus?
A: It is actually the body and blood of Jesus.
Q: And what would you say if someone told you it wasn’t?
A: I would say, “You are wrong. It is the true body and blood of Jesus, because that is what the Orthodox Church teaches.”
Q: Why does Jesus give you His body and blood?
A: Because He is good and because He loves us.
Q: Do you love Him, too?
A: Yes. Very much.
Q: How do you love Him?
A: By doing all the things He commands.
Q: What will happen after you eat the body and blood of Jesus?
A: Jesus comes into our hearts and does all the good things we do.
Q: Does Jesus do evil things with you?
A: No.
Q: Have you asked Jesus into your hearts?
A: Many times.
Q: If you decide to get married someday, what kind of man must you marry?
A: An Orthodox man, or else he won’t come to Church with us and our children will be confused.
A Short History of Audacious Bets Made In America During The 20th Century
Christians: (pushing a small stack of poker chips into the middle of the table) I bet there’s no such thing as gluttony.
Secularists: (pushing out two larger stacks of poker chips) I bet there’s no such thing as lust.
Christians: (undaunted, pushing all remaining poker chips out) I bet there’s no such thing as shallowness.
Secularists: *mops brow*
Books Finished In 2020
A work of juvenilia, really, but I am moving on to Stoner next. I haven’t read a great American novel in some time.
There are still faint glimmers of civilization left in this barbaric slaughterhouse that was once known as humanity. 