Thursday, April 27, 2006

Thank You for Smoking

Last Friday, I went to 'Thank You for Smoking' with two of my friends, Joanna and Laura, whose relationship is a bit tumultuous. The movie produced a very peculiar feeling; on the one hand, it was a heart-warming father-son bonding trip; on the other hand, the father was narcissistic and amoral and probably should have been kept away. This did create some dramatic tension and was a relief from the general sentimentality characteristic of father-son stories, but it's not a movie where you can cheer for the protagonist. To paraphrase a comment on 'V for Vendetta': 'Just because he's the protagonist doesn't make him a good guy, you morons!' But perhaps this ambiguity in 'Thank You for Smoking' will shatter this delusion for at least a few discerning souls.

Monday, April 17, 2006

Paschal News

Here's a bit of timely language geekery: 'paschal' as in 'of Easter' comes from the Greek verb 'paskho', related to the Latin 'passio' from 'patior'. The roots of both mean 'experience deeply' rather than 'suffer', so the terms refer to the entire experience of the death of Christ, not only the suffering.

The recent anti-Coptic violence in Alexandria, Egypt bothers me. It reminds me why there are now far more Copts outside Egypt than within it. It also reminds me that I still need to go to the little Coptic church in the East Bay when I get back.

And Happy Birthday to the Pope.

Sunday, April 16, 2006

Opening Salvo

I just set up this blog so I could post on my brother's blog. I guess I've been sucked into this blogging thing at last. But I guess my Classical heroes showed no reluctance to write about anything and everything.

My voice is shot from the choral gymnastics of the Triduum (Good Friday to Easter).
I can finally go read the Gospel of Judas without worrying that it will distract me from the proper attitude to Holy Week.