Category: Odds & Ends

Anti-Americanism has grown steadily since the end of the Cold War. A large part of this is resentment towards American economic success; some of it is resentment toward Hollywood’s slime machine (no argument there).
An overlooked cause of anti-Americanism is our success in sports, particularly our surprisingly good showing in the 2002 Winter Games and our stellar medal count in this year’s games. Remember a few years ago when the American team did really well in the World Cup? If we had won, we would have been hated with a furious passion by most countries when they realized that most Americans don’t even care about soccer.
So to assuage this sentiment against our fine country, I suggest that instead of sending our athletic supermen to Beijing in 2008, we should send our Special Olympics team. Then the rest of the world can high-five each other when they beat the Americans. The Special Olympians will just be happy to compete. Everybody wins, and it advances the national interest. What do you guys think? Do we give them a chance?

When I meet a man who obviously spends way too much time making his hair look pretty, I instinctively mistrust him. I’m not saying I’m a hair expert — I don’t even own a comb — but it does say something about a man when he feels the need to apply several unguents to his head every day.
I associate this with falsehood because in my professional life, the people who pay excessive attention to their appearance are the same people who think looking good is equivalent to being good (or doing good). They would prefer to do something flashy or impressive, rather than quiet and intelligent, just because it might raise their status within the organization.
Hair gel might not cause venality or superficiality, but it does seem to be a sure indicator of those qualities. Has anyone else noticed this? Were there any saints with great hair?

A blog by Joshua LeBlanc, one of our faithful brethren from Front Royal, VA.
And let me say at this time:
Hooray for faithful Catholics from Front Royal!
Hooray for Christendom College!
Hooray for the communion rail in the chapel at Christendom College!

The latest movie by the director of “Signs” and “Unbreakable” (and who’s name is nearly Unpronounceable) looks pretty bad to me. The previews seemed all spooky for no reason.
But then I read this review and I’m tempted to see it. After all, how many movies have a Village Simpleton these days?
The USCCB doesn’t have a movie review up yet.
And this topic bests the question: should Catholic Light have a Village Simpleton?

Stephen Sanchez, a Catholic Light reader, asked us to post information on this conference. (The text below is taken from the online promotional flier. I have no idea if there will be anyone there who is “cooler than me,” though it wouldn’t surprise me.)

What: Ars Conference
Where: South Bend, IN
When: Aug. 7-8, 2004
Who: High School Teens and their Families
How Much: $75 with discounts for families
This conference is gonna be sweet! It’s named after the Cure of Ars, St. John Vianney and stands for America Returns to the Sacraments. The story goes that the Fr. Vianney was travelling to his first parish assignment (Ars) when he got a little lost. He found two shepherd boys out in a field and he said to them “My sons, show me the way to Ars and I will show you the way to Heaven.” So this Conference is all about getting to Heaven, baby!
It’s got Matt Smith from the Real World, Fr. Pontifex of Phatmass phame, the Pete Cornelius Band and Fr. Dan Sheidt who is so cool, there just aren’t words for him.
Seriously, if you live near South Bend, IN (that means Chi-town all the way to Indy and back up to Cleaveland and around Detroit to Grand Rapids) you should make it a point to be at this Conference. It’s gonna be great. I’m gonna be there. And well, a bunch of people cooler than me. Check it out!