Love

Love bade me welcome, yet my soul drew back, Guilty of dust and sin. But quick-ey'd Love, observing me grow slack From my first entrance in, Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning If I lack'd anything. "A guest," I answer'd, "worthy to be here"; Love said, "You shall be he." "I, the unkind, the ungrateful? ah my dear, I cannot look on thee." Love took my hand and smiling did reply, "Who made the eyes but I?" "Truth, Lord, but I have marr'd them; let my shame Go where it doth deserve." "And know you not," says Love, "who bore the blame?" "My dear, then I will serve." "You must sit down," says Love, "and taste my meat."

So I did sit and eat. by George Herbert

University of Florida mascot terrorizes neighborhood

You see? This is why I love Star Trek. Captain Kirk is whisked away to an asteroid to fight a man in an alligator suit with diamond eyes and what looks like a bullet hole in his head. There just so happens to potassium something and sulfer and a conveniently shaped piece of bamboo...Kirk turns into McGyver and makes a cannon with home made gunpowder from the aformentioned chemicals and some handy diamonds for projectiles. He then shoots and subdues said alligator. This is the best show ever.

French manners

So France did not feel obliged to invite the Queen of England to the 65th anniversary of D-Day ceremony being held this June. Intriguingly enough, this means that of the major countries involved in the D-Day convention (France, England, and America), England, the country who lost the most during the invasion, does not get a special invitation. So Barack Obama and Sarkozy, neither of whom were even alive when this happened, will no doubt have a field day with the press and photographers while the Queen, who is literally a veteran of World War II, does not merit an invitation. Interesting. It is tragic to note that this has become a state function with little to no memory of just what it is commemorating. This should be more than a Kodak moment for politicians who are eager to appear in touch with history to their constituency. Their neglect has made all too apparent how ignorant and boorish they really are. This is supposed to be a memorial, not another red carpet event for Barack Obama that Sarkozy can sidle in on to bask in his glow. I'm not asking for Pericle's funeral oration or the Gettysburg address here; but is it too much to expect a basic understanding of the significance of the event and the people who were involved? Granted, neither Sarkozy or Obama have enough class to be rubbing shoulders with the Queen of England, but that's beside the point. I think the dead who are buried there will mind very much that they are denied her presence in favor of a couple of self congratulating and morally bankrupt politicians. But maybe that's just me.

Bloom County

It's about time. My favorite comic strip (after Calvin and Hobbes) is finally being reprinted in complete form by IDW Publishing. I remember reading my parents' collections of these as a kid, most of the humor sailing right over my head (come to think of it, they were probably totally inappropriate for my maturity level) but loving the cartooning, and especially the characters Opus and Binkley. Too bad the recent "Opus" spin-off was a dud. The first volume releases in October.

The world is charged with the grandeur of God

These celestial works of art, products of medieval man's quest to glorify God in ways that boggled the mind and suffused the senses, are familiar to all of us. We see them and understand immediately: stained glass rose windows, that could be in any one of dozens of cathedrals across Europe and even America. What of the picture above them? Maybe my sanity is slipping. But I see an uncanny resemblance between the view down the axis of an alpha, beta, or average strand of DNA and the song of colored glass that mankind thought fit to praise God. How could that be coincidence? My study of science has been so shallow; every time I dig even a little deeper, there is something to take my breath away. My mind is not wired scientifically and it doesn't come easily to me. Yet my brief sojourns so far have impressed upon me one thing at least: my education will be deficient if I don't pursue this. It may not fit in my schedule with credits, but I am determined then to audit science courses during the rest of my stay at Hillsdale. This discovery with the image of DNA reminded me of a quote from one of my favorite Psalms: "if I fly to the sea's furthest edge, You are there, Your right hand holds me fast". Science is often regarded as a haven for nonbelievers, those who shun faith and God. But "with unperturbed pace, Deliberate speed, majestic instancy" the Hound of Heaven follows us everywhere. As Eliot wrote:

"The dance along the artery The circulation of the lymph Is figured in the drift of stars"

Jesus said "the very stones would cry out" to praise His name. How clearly can we see that in all of creation's ceaseless, beautiful shout of joy to the Heavens.

Chesterton on Canada

As a follow-up to the last Chesterton snippet, here's a rare and more substantial piece. Here, G. K. Chesterton gives an address to the Canadian Authors' Association, on December 31st, 1933.

Note: File has been re-uploaded as of January 15, 2010

Chesterton on Canada (12 min, 34 sec)

Chesterton!

After the success of the audio recording of Flannery O'Connor's voice, I've decided to try and put up rare recordings of other famous literary figures. For the most part, these are very hard to find, so bear with me. First up, Chesterton. This is from Holy Cross College, Dec. 1930:

STUDENT - Mr. Chesterton, since you are one of the foremost crusaders in the modern world of letters, we wish to adopt you into the humble ranks of the Holy Cross Crusaders.

CHESTERTON -I have to thank you for this very great honor and I do so with all my heart. I can only say that I am not much of a crusader but at least I am not a Mohammedan and many people will testify to the fact. I should like to take this opportunity of thanking you all for your enormous kindness, especially Father Earl for having received me so hospitably today.

Student Audio

Chesterton Audio