Just Plain Fun Reading — Andrea Vernon series

The Andrea Vernon books are perfect light, fun reading. These are what you get when you mix the workplace, romance, and superheroes. Andrea sees all the action from behind-the-scenes at a corporation which manages their contracts and assignments. Which is very funny indeed.

The audiobooks are read by Bahni Turpin who is as good as you can get for expressive reading.

Andrea Vernon's drowning in debt and has no prospects. Then, one morning, she is kidnapped, interviewed, and hired as an administrative assistant by the Corporation for UltraHuman Protection. Superheroes for hire, using their powers for good.

Her coworkers may be able to shoot lightning out of their hands or have skin made of diamonds, but they refuse to learn how to use the company's database. And there's the small matter of a giant alien space egg hovering over Yankee Stadium, threatening civilization as we know it.

Alexander C. Kane has an inventive mind when it comes to superheroes and villains. The range of abilities and the uses to which they are put are both believable (in a superhero universe) and funny. Combining this with an office atmosphere full of sales meetings, government restrictions, and contracts is surprisingly effective and ... of course ... funny. My favorite hero is Inspector Well Actually. He's the most brilliant man on earth but can't analyze a situation unless someone makes a flatly wrong statement that he can contradict. Hence the name "Well Actually."

Andrea's adventures wrap all these elements together into a surprisingly tense tale of saving the world from aliens. It's like a comic book but without the pictures. And that works because Bahni Turpin's narration is spot on.

More than a year after she helped save the world, Andrea Vernon is in a good place. Her boss is giving her greater responsibility and she’s getting to travel a lot. And she has a really fun new BFF, Never More.

One small issue, though — Never More is a supervillain bent on world domination, and it looks as if nothing can stop her. Especially since Congress is determined to bring the Corporation for UltraHuman Protection and all of “Big Supe” under government control.

Even with mankind’s greatest heroes fighting back, will it fall on Andrea to save the day — again?

This book is even better than the first. Alexander Kane has a positive genius for combining superheroes with the mundane activities of business and life. Corporate takeovers, inappropriate best friends, and adapting to new business techniques are melded hilariously with some of the most inventive superheroes yet. As always, I love Andrea's personality, Ms. O, and Inspector Well Actually. Now I can add Andrea's frenemy Never More to the list.

The supervillains of DESTRON have conquered the country, The Big Axe has been imprisoned, and the heroes of the Corporation for UltraHuman Protection have been reduced to hiding behind a force field surrounding New York City.

And if that's not enough, Andrea Vernon is pregnant. With a Little Axe.

But Andrea’s not one to sit on the sidelines. She has to make a plan to save the country, rescue her boyfriend, and figure out what exactly people do with babies. And a whole new slate of enemies is coming for CUP, led by the newly installed dictator of America, Dr. Robotfury, and his ingenious mecha-administrative assistant who bears a rather frightening resemblance to Andrea.

It’s a lot to wrap up before you go on maternity leave.

This was a good addition to the series. I thought the Executive Committee subplot was very, very dumb. However, the rest was great fun. I especially liked the new super C'Mon.  Recommended to anyone who likes Andrea Vernon.

Saint Cecilia with an Angel, Gentileschi

Saint Cecilia with an Angel, Orazio Gentileschi

The Cardsharps

The Cardsharps by Caravaggio (c.1594)

Wisdom from the ages — don't let anyone you don't know well stand behind you when you're playing cards.

Italian Vibe

Italian Vibe, Edward B. Gordon

Gordon says: Here in Dresden, I kept finding memories of Italy. The atmosphere, the light, the architecture, everything was full of wonderful surprises.

The Lemon Wins

If I were forced to give up every fruit in the world but one I would have absolutely no trouble choosing. The lemon wins, hands down.

The lemon is the workhorse of the food world: dependable, versatile, and available all year round. You can preserve it in salt, as the Moroccans do, and stuff your chicken with it, or you can stick it into a suet crust surrounded by butter, as the British do. You can dice it up and put it into a salad with red onion and Italian parsley. You can make lemon cookies, lemon cake, lemon icing, lemonade (hot or cold), lemon flip, and lemon rice pudding. A drop of lemon juice and a strip of lemon peel make a chicken soup divine. A tablespoon of lemon juice in your pesto brings all the flavors together. People who find vinegar hard to take love lemon juice in their salad dressing, and people on low- or no-salt diets find lemon juice just the thing. The ascorbic acid it contains makes things taste salty.

Laurie Colwin, A Writer Returns to the Kitchen

After a long absence, I have been rereading Laurie Colwin's food writing. It is so delightful and evocative. It makes me want to cook. 

And it surprises me. Mostly because a lemon isn't categorized as a fruit that I'd have considered as an answer. I would have thought of fruit for eating — grapes, strawberries, cantaloupe, even the humble banana. But I would have been wrong.

Gladioli

Gladioli, Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Just Plain Fun Movies — The Fall Guy

Fresh off an almost career-ending accident, stuntman Colt Seavers has to track down a missing movie star, solve a conspiracy and try to win back the love of his life while still doing his day job.

This has a slow start but once it gets going it never slows down. It is such a clever and funny homage to action movies, from the many references dropped to the way the soundtrack features the songs up front and loud. As always, main attraction Ryan Gosling is wonderful. I would watch him read the phone book.

It wasn't perfect. There is that slow start. Emily Blount is, for me, always unremarkable. A stronger female star was needed to provide a spark strong enough to match Gosling and the script in general. The script could have used another pass to clean up the main storyline but all the asides and references made it great fun to watch. 

However, those are small quibbles. Overall The Fall Guy is just a great popcorn movie.

A Summer Day on the Elbe

A Summer Day on the Elbe, Edward B. Gordon

Three Sisters

 

Three Sisters by Yamakawa Shūhō

Simply delightful!

Psalm 43 – Hope in God

If [enemies] persist, and, with hands red with blood, try to drag you down and kill you, remember that God is the proper judge (for he alone is righteous while that which is human is limited) and so say the words of ... [Psalm 43].

Athanasius, On the Interpretation of the Psalms

As we noted for Psalm 42, Psalm 43 used to be a the last part of that hymn until they were separated to be used in the prayer book. They express a longing for restoration by God which is combined by confident trust.

Medieval painting of guitarra latina (left) and guitarra morisca (right)
from the Cantigas de Santa Maria (13th. century)
I like the way that the musicians are watching each other's playing.
Kind of like jamming at a rock concert.

Saint John Paul II has a meditation on this psalm as part of the series he did covering the prayers of the evening in the liturgy of the hours. Read the whole thing here if you like. I share this bit which talks about the Psalmist as a pilgrim toward Heaven, struggling through the darkness of trials but with joy in his heart because of the encounter with God that awaits at the end.

With Confidence on the Road Toward Heavenly Zion

The person praying has not yet reached the temple of God, he is still overwhelmed by the darkness of the trial; but now before his eyes shines the light of the future encounter, and his lips already experience the tone of the song of joy....

The Psalm then becomes the prayer of the one who is a pilgrim on earth and still finds himself in contact with evil and suffering, but has the certainty that the endpoint of history is not an abyss of death, but rather a saving encounter with God. This certainty is even stronger for Christians, to whom the Letter to the Hebrews proclaims: "You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to God that judge of all, and to the spirits of the just made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks more eloquently than that of Abel" (Heb. 12: 22-24).

An index of psalm posts is here.

Marbles Play Rush E on Different Instruments

Bonkers in the best possible way. Be sure your sound is on because that's the point.

Scum of the Earth by Alexander C. Kane

I have enjoyed Alexander C. Kane's writing from the moment that Andrea Vernon and the Corporation for UltraHuman Protection came out on Audible. That series dealt with superheroes from a business management point of view. The Orlando People series featured X-men style mutants and the prejudice they faced for having small talents. Dragon Heist was just glorious fun looking at looting a lair, pulling together a band of thieves in a small Southern town, and Alabama football. (Also the funniest dragon you will ever meet.)

All of these books all fell under the category of "fun summer reading." Sure, they had underdogs and might touch on deeper issues but it was always in service of the adventure and humor. They are popcorn books, fun and funny.

This book is something else. Kane actually writes a real science fiction novel. This book looks at alien invasion from the point of the collaborators, the turncoats who wholeheartedly cooperate with the subjugation of the human race to a life of fear and misery.

So it's dark. And it's about a topic that I do not want to read about. That's why it came out in January and it took me until September to try it. In fact, I did something I never do — I picked up the Kindle copy (only $4.99 - his books are always reasonably priced) — and read the last chapter first. Hey, I read 1984 last year and I didn't need that kind of thing hitting me again. So I'll tell you it isn't 1984.

Reassured I began reading. Then, as is the case with Kane's books, I began reading faster and faster, unable to put it down. Although the book is definitely dark, it has ironic moments that help lighten the mood. There also are small humorous comments that I didn't notice until I was listening to the audio book. Kane's books have always really shone in audio.

I was surprised to see that, although it isn't 1984, there are definite echoes of concepts and themes that I found when reading it. Doublethink, to name just one example, is everywhere.

There are chances for redemption which are examined through the lens of all sorts of characters from True Believers (ah, but what do they hitch their belief to?), opportunists, and those seeking fulfillment in doing what they do best. All of this is expressed through the way people are living under the invasion.

And all this is still, as is Kane's talent, expressed through a riveting adventure story that you can't put down. Highly recommended.

NOTE: I realized that I've been very lax about posting reviews of Kane's other books. I'll be catching up on that soon!

Autumn in Oirase

Autumn in Oirase by Kawase Hasui, 1933

 It won't look properly like fall here until a month or two from now. So we'll keep reminders like this until the real thing.

Le Dejeuner

Le Dejeuner, Henri Le Sidaner

I want to go to there.

The Play is Ended

The Play is Ended. Walter Ernest Webster (English, 1878-1959)

This just looked rather dream-like to me and suited my mood.

Fishermen at Sea

Fishermen at Sea, William Turner, 1796
via Wikipaintings

When I came across this I couldn't tear my eyes away from the waves. They look so very real. Click through and take a look at this close up. I can almost feel the spray hit my face.

Gentle Reading of Long Ago Times: Lark Rise to Candleford by Flora Thompson

I've read this on and off over the last 30 years. My daughter, Hannah, has my copy of this book and I recently remembered that it is gentle reading for troubled times. There is an inexpensive Kindle version which is perfect for occasionally dipping into this soothing, fascinating look at bygone days. 

My original review is below.

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This is probably my third time reading this trilogy. I used to keep it in my desk at work for lunchtime reading when there was no one else in the break room.

These three books are chronicles of small village, larger village, and small town life in rural England in the late 1800s. Told with fictionalized names this is nonetheless acknowledged to be a good record of what life was really like back then, from the farming/working class point of view. As such, Thompson didn't populate it with a main story line but centered it on one family (her own, one presumes) and then told all she had observed growing up. We see working habits, tavern stories and songs, pig killing day, and much more. In a sense, I suppose one could call it "Little House" stories for grown ups - set in Britain.

The rhythm of life gently washes over the reader and, if one isn't too worried about driving storylines as I mentioned, then there is a great reward in these books. They are perfect for unforced reading whenever one has a chance.

I was unaware that there was a television series based on these until reading some GoodReads reviews. No wonder many of them were slightly disappointed. There would have to be a great deal of "reading into" to get storylines for the Lark Rise village setting. I've also seen a variety of rather judgmental reviews commenting on sexism, politics, and so forth. Those entirely miss the point of history, for one thing, and of these books, for another.

Here is an excellent overall review of the book for anyone who'd like an overview.

The Artist in His Studio

Rembrandt, The Artist in His Studio
via Wikipaintings

I am endlessly fascinated by artists who show themselves painting or in somehow in their work environment. This one grabbed my attention because of the looming size of the canvas and the small figure of the artist who surveys it from a distance.

Is it just a reflection of my own psyche when facing a writing session that I see intimidation in beginning or continuing a project in this piece? I guess that's the interest in such a piece of art. It has left the artist's hands. Now, what does it say to us?

Notes on Mark: Broadcasting Seed Upon Soil

Pulpit of the Roman Catholic church in Sarud, Hungary. Source.

MARK 4:1

"The entire crowd was on the land right up to the sea"

"On the land" is literally "upon the soil," (epi tes ges). The same or a similar phrase is repeated frequently in the parables of this chapter, as if the soil upon which the seed (the word) is broadcast is the very crowd which is "on the soil." Jesus preaching from the boat is broadcasting seed upon the soil. That is, telling the parable of the sower, he is engaged in the very activity he is talking about.

The Memoirs of St. Peter by Mark Pakaluk

This comment drives home the idea that Mark was a talented writer who knew how to use language and repetition to make a point if only we have "ears to hear." The mental image this brought up really has captured my imagination.

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Sources and Notes Index

And the Winner Is — 1931

Our family is working our way through Oscar winners and whichever nominees take our fancy. Also as they are available, since the early films can be hard to find. We began in January 2023 with Cimarron from 1931, which won Best Picture for the 4th Academy Awards.

When the government opens up the Oklahoma territory for settlement, restless Yancey Cravat claims a plot of the free land moves his family there. Cravat soon becomes a leading citizen of the boom town of Osage.

Once the town is established, Yancey is restless again and goes to explore the wilderness while his wife Sabra must learn to take care of herself. She soon becomes prominent in her own right.

This 1931 movie swept the Oscars and they did a good job. It is dated in some ways, of course, being 92 years old. That being said, it also was surprisingly progressive for the time. There were some elements that would now be called racist but there were also distinctly pro-woman, native American, Jewish, and mixed marriage elements.

We enjoyed the dynamic between the husband and wife, with neither being perfect - he keeps abandoning the family to go off adventuring, while she falls prey to the conventions that keep parts of society down. Both influence the other for good.

Interestingly, Edna Ferber patterned Yancey on Sam Houston's youngest son who had all Yancey's best attributes without the wandering off element.

No other movies from these Oscars were available. We were glad this movie was so enjoyable. Our rating - 3-1/2 stars out of five.

Chai-Spiced Pound Cake Anyone?

 Get it here.

Boy Ridding His Dog of Fleas

Gerard Terborch, Boy Ridding his Dog of Fleas, c. 1665

I love the look of patient suffering on the dog's face.

Portrait of Renoir

Frederic Bazille, Portrait of Renoir, 1867

My goodness, who knew that Renoir was so handsome?

Mulk (Country)

I recently rewatched this for an upcoming podcast episode. It was my third viewing and I was surprised that it was just as powerful as the first time. It speaks to modern times in America as well as to the original Indian audience.

My original review is below.

This was based on a true case where a terrorist's entire family was taken to court and accused of being a terrorist cell. We were invested on the family's side, as most American viewers would be, and as the movie intended everyone to be. It was also very interesting to see how the top terrorist persuaded the family son to his cause.

The movie did an especially good job of showing the friendly Hindu-Muslim relations between neighborhood families which then spiraled downhill after the terrorist act. And we appreciated the inside views of the horror-stricken family and how they also got different reactions to the crime from inside their own Muslim community.

The actors were all great, especially Rishi Kapoor as the family patriarch and Ashutosh Rana as the public prosecutor. Rana is well known for his "negative roles" and we could see why.

Some reviewers criticized this for a lack of subtlety but c'mon. It's a courtroom drama. That means over-the-top speeches whether in America or India. Even the venerable Twelve Angry Men doesn't escape that. Overall, a good legal movie with a message that works today in America in a lot of ways.

Rating — for viewers with medium to difficult Indian film experience. (It's not rocket science, but without any cultural background at all you might feel kind of lost.)

King Peggy by Peggielene Bartels

An American Secretary, Her Royal Destiny, and
the Inspiring Story of How She Changed an African Village

I ran this review back in 2013 when I first read it. Since then I've read it several times and it has become one of my favorite books. I thought I'd rerun this for anyone who missed it the first time around.

A native Ghanan, Peggy was working at the Ghanan embassy in Washington D.C. when she got the call that her uncle, the king of their village, has dies and that she was chosen the next king. This was really unusual because women were not usually kings.

What is fascinating to me is that, because she lived in America, Peggy sees her home town through new eyes. Just thinking about the 7,000 people she will lead, she flashes on the children carrying buckets of dirty brown water home each day and realizes she has to get them clean water (a minimum standard for living in America). Stuck in traffic on the way to the village, Peggy watches young people peddling junk to make pennies a day and realizes that, as in America, the teenagers from her village should have a high school.

As someone straddling both worlds, Peggy clearly sees the good and bad in both America and Ghana. The book also becomes an open door, inviting us to learn more about Ghanian life (albeit from a king's perspective, which is not as removed from regular life as one might think). I like the way that tidbits of Ghanian history are slipped into the book for context without being lengthy or overwhelming, but giving a perfect perspective for understanding Peggy's situation.

Some of Peggy's realizations about needed change are very straight forward, some are more complex, but they all come from a place of sacrifice for the good of her people. She always knows she can never do this job by herself so she depends on Jesus, God, and her ancestor spirits because she blends belief in Christianity and ancestor worship. Peggy receives spirit guidance, which I tend to view as God speaking through the saints, but ... whatever. As the book continues, we are shown that, in giving, Peggy also receives. We see that Peggy's sacrifices lead to unforeseen growth in character and that the skills she learns to be an effective king may eventually influence those far beyond her village. This is a story not only of a fascinating situation but also of the way to make a healthy community.

And I've kind of fallen in love with her soul stool (something each king is given but can never sit upon). You'll have to read the book to know what I'm talking about but it has a personality all its own. Peggy is always given encouragement for the difficult task because only God can make a king, as a friend tells her. This is a fascinating blend of Peggy using her innate talents, the skills that have been developed in her life thus far, and spiritual guidance.

It is really well written so you feel as if you can almost "hear" Peggy's voice. To say the least, it is fascinating and I am really fond of Peggy.

The key to the story, though, is King Peggy's servant heart.

Belly laugh

Belly laugh, Remo Savisaar

This seal looks so happy! The photographer named this "Yawning" and that is probably what it is doing, but I love the happiness of this image.

Apples

Apples by Thomas Worthington Whittredge, 1867.

 Fall is here. Let's celebrate with apples fresh from the tree, maybe in a pie!

At the Sunrise

At the Sunrise
taken by the incomparable Remo Savisaar

Major

This was a really excellent biopic/action movie showing Major Sandeep's story. He was a hero of the Mumbai attacks who rescued many people and directed his team in saving others.

I knew very few details of the terrorist attacks and hadn't heard of Major Sandeep, including whether he lived or died. That made it very suspenseful. Knowing it really happened made it hit much harder than the usual action film even though this did have a lot of big moves that you would expect from a Hollywood film.

Breeze in the Autumn

Breeze of Autumn photo
taken by Calligraphy in the Landscape

Mark of harvest season approaching.

Color, and taste. It is the master of Japanese food.

The highest quality rice.

初秋や　海も青田も　一みどり　

松尾　芭蕉　(1644 – 1694)

early fall　　sea and rice fields　　filled with green 　

Matsuo Bashō　(1644 – 1694)

I urge you to go to the post at Calligraphy in the Landscape, not only to see this photo in greater detail, but to also see all the other lovely images and poetry in the post about autumn.

Coke

Coke
painted by James Neil Hollingsworth

This is from a long time ago but it is so perfectly painted that I have to share it again.

Notes on Mark: Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

Depiction of the Christian Holy Spirit as a dove,
by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, in the apse of Saint Peter's Basilica

MARK 3:28-30
I always wondered why blasphemy against the Holy Spirit was the only unforgivable sin. This makes it crystal clear.

Jesus has just worked a miracle but the scribes refuse to recognize it "for they had said 'He has an unclean spirit'" (v. 30). They do not want to admit that God is the author of the miracle. In this attribute lies the special gravity of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit -- attributing to the prince of evil, to Satan, the good works performed by God himself ... That is why our Lord says that he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven: not because God cannot forgive all sins, but because that person, in his blindness towards God, rejects Jesus Christ, his teaching and his miracles, and despises the graces of the Holy Spirit as if they were designed to trap him (cf. St. Pius V Catechism, II, 5, 19; St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa theologiae, II-II, q. 14, a. 3). CF. note on Mt 12:31-32.

The Navarre Bible: St. Mark

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Sources and Notes Index

Julie wrote uplifting notes in all her children's books. Scott forgot his wallet again and had to beg for cabfare.

 Episode 339 of A Good Story is Hard to Find podcast: The End of the Affair by Graham Greene, with guests Rose and Hannah! 

Velo

Velo
by Edward B. Gordon

As I have said many a time, I love it when modern art reflects modern life in a way that people in the future can get a feel for how we live. No one does it better than Edward B. Gordon.

How Harry Cast His Spell by John Granger

How Harry Cast His Spell explains why the books meet our longing to experience the truths of life, love, and death; help us better understand life and our role in the universe; and encourage us to discover and develop our own gifts and abilities.

I recently listened to a podcast specializing in deep meaning in novels do several episodes on Harry Potter and the Philosopher's (Sorcerer's) Stone. It was really interesting and led to me to look for information about the following six novels of the series.

This book fills the bill. Not only does John Granger have chapters about Christian and literary symbolism, names, and themes, but he then goes through each book looking beneath the surface. This led me to reread the series for the first time in years, which I enjoyed immensely. Granger's commentary showed me some new ideas about the books and that made them even more meaningful. I enjoyed this a lot. 

Definitely recommended.

The power of character

It often feels like we’re in society that’s moved beyond any accepted definition of character or morality. It’s shown in our politics, our entertainment, our social media feeds . . . But in the person of Lincoln, we’re clearly reminded about the power of character. Kindness, magnanimity, wisdom, thoughtfulness, etc. These things matter.

Jeremy Anderberg, The Big Read, commenting on Team of Rivals

Absolutely. I look at Lincoln and I look at our leaders today. These things matter and we don't require it of our leaders any more.

Fun Summer Reading — The Empress of Mars by Kage Baker

Empress of Mars is an enjoyable "Western" romp on Mars as seen via Mary Griffith who runs the local saloon and represents society on the fringes being oppressed by big business. As people come and go we see their individual stories and how they fit into the jigsaw puzzle that is this Martian colony. I really loved the romantic Ottorino Vespucci, scion of a wealthy but boring Earth family. He's a misfit due to his love of adventure and "translates" all the finagling for power in the Martian colony in terms of Western movies. And it fits.

I also really enjoyed Baker's ability to tell the truth without worrying about letting the chips fall where they may. Proper society is one that we might predict from watching current popular sociological trends. Although the "Goddess" worship popular among Mary and her cronies is linked to the Virgin of Guadalupe, it is also a nebulous sort of faith which encompasses something far beyond any Christian understanding of the Virgin Mary. And yet Baker isn't afraid to include Christians among those who would be thrown into the Hospital for Eccentrics, which is something a good many authors would have been blind to, depending upon their own prejudices.

This book is set in the world of Baker's series about "The Company." It is a stand-alone and only tangentially connected to that series. I honestly didn't recognize the two obvious Company characters who were included (Mr. De Wit and Mr. Nennius) but knowing who they are explains why they are enemies from the time they meet.

Overall a fun, light, imaginative read.

A City Atlas

Sidney Starr, A City Atlas, 1888-1889
via Arts and Everyday Living

Playing Children

Su Hanchen, Playing Children, mid-12th century

A painting by the Song Dynasty Chinese artist Su Hanchen (active 1130s–1160s) of two children waving a peacock feather banner like the one used in Song Dynasty dramatical theater to signal the acting general or leader of troops. If not displayed in the home of a wealthy gentry figure, this painting could very well have been an art piece of the royal family's residence in Hangzhou.

The image and description are via Wikipedia. I was looking for Chinese opera masks and came across this instead. I loved these children and their kitten. People never change ...

Adolphe Cossard

Adolphe Cossard
via French Painters

Gismonda

Alfons Mucha, Poster for Victorien Sardou's Gismonda
starring Sarah Bernhardt at the Théâtre de la Renaissance in Paris.
Source

Orange

Orange
painted by Paul Coventry-Brown

One of my favorite painters. Be sure to check out his gallery at the link.

Just Plain Fun — The Lost City

Reclusive author Loretta Sage writes about exotic places in her popular adventure novels that feature a handsome cover model named Alan. While on tour promoting her new book with Alan, Loretta gets kidnapped by an eccentric billionaire who hopes she can lead him to the ancient city’s lost treasure that featured in her latest story. Alan, determined to prove he can be a hero in real life and not just on the pages of her books, sets off to rescue her.

This movie had mixed reviews and I've never been a fan of either Sandra Bullock or Channing Tatum. So I ignored it until I came across a positive review from Scott's Self-Indulgent Movie Blog which summed up:

Behind charming lead performances and an upbeat message, The Lost City is a fun as hell romantic action comedy.

We watched this for our family movie night and all of us really had a great time. It's a solid comedy that is an homage to Romancing the Stone, while being completely different. Very funny and a lot of fun. Also, Brad Pitt's part showed why he should do more comedy.

A Really Good Prayer ... Again

I first wrote this back in 2004 and then again in 2013. It seems to come up every ten years since I was recently asked about this post again ... so I'm just popping it in as a new post. 

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Here is a prayer that never fails. It is excellent for those times when someone is crunching popcorn in your ear while you are watching "The Passion", when the choir won't stop practicing even though they did not reserve the room that you need to use, or when you find yourself in the situation I did yesterday ... talking to a very angry man who treats you contemptuously as a simple fool. In other words, it is perfect for helping deal with the irritations and stress of daily life.

Lord, have mercy on me and bless them.

This simple prayer is proof that you do not have to "feel" the prayer. You simply must be willing to say it, however grudgingly. Considering the circumstances that lead up to it, I always am upset and irritated whenever I say it. Do I actually want those annoying people to be blessed? Hmph, I should say not! (At least I don't feel as if I do, although I am going to the effort of saying the prayer...) In fact, yesterday I was shaking with anger when I suddenly realized that prayer was running over and over in my head. But it is the classic case of "ask and you shall receive." Whenever I say it, I never fail to be reminded of my many imperfections, my pride, and that we are all sinners together. Often that is just what I need to calm down and let my anger go. Especially when I remember to ask God what he sees that is lovable in that person. After all, he sees so much deeper than we do.

In fact, yesterday I was given much more than that. I actually was able to walk away without getting sucked into further argument. I let him "win." So he thinks I'm an idiot? OK, fine. Believe me, that's not my way. No matter how hard I have fought with myself, I never have been able to do that before. It was all grace, an amazing triumph over my worst instincts, an answer to prayer for which I am very grateful.

I realized that angry man actually was the answer to a prayer for humility. That's another prayer that usually is fairly grudging. I know I need it. I know its good for me. But I know it hurts. Why is it that those prayers always are answered so quickly? Maybe its because that is the path that takes us closest to where we should be ... death to self, doing everything for the glory of God.

I was left with peace in my heart, an ability to pray for the man to truly be blessed, and an appreciation of humility (again). This morning's prayer for humility was much more sincere. What a great ending to that encounter. Thanks be to God for that simple prayer and for His quick answers.

TV You Might Have Missed 11 — Star Trek: Lower Decks

The main characters of Lower Decks (L-R):
D'Vana Tendi, Sam Rutherford, Beckett Mariner, and Brad Boimler.

The Star Trek franchise's first first comedy, Lower Decks focuses on one of Starfleet's least important starships, the USS Cerritos. Unlike previous Star Trek series, whose principal characters are typically starship captains and other senior officers, Lower Decks focuses on the missions and adventures of the "lower deckers", low-ranking officers with menial jobs, while the captain and other senior staff appear as supporting characters.

I first heard of this on Scott's Self-Indulgent Movie Podcast. Scott had never watched any Star Trek of any sort but had the cultural understanding of the show. He enjoyed this animated series so much that he binged the whole thing. We had to try it. By Episode 4 we were hooked. Part of the fun is the references to other Star Trek shows that the lower decks gang toss around. Part of it is the friendship between the lower decks gang. And, finally, part is the wackiness and humor. As for the rest, go read Scott's review. Here's a key part that drew me in.

Lower Decks basically handles a movie-level problem every episode as the main thrust or A plot, often with direct homages to the Star Trek movies themselves. Action scenes are quick and feature everything from hand-to-hand combat to space battles and hell they can destroy a moon or a planet if they want to without obvious green screen work. Meanwhile the secondary storylines, either the B or C storylines, are the equivalent of a sci-fi workplace comedy where one character is trying to impress a superior, deal with some interpersonal conflict, or essentially an episode-long joke.

But because it's a comedy, the life or death stakes often have a silly bent to them. For instance, the recurring villain the Pakleds are deadly serious when encountered in combat but are also...complete morons whose hierarchy is based on hats.

This captures the gist of the thing. We've caught up with all four seasons and are eagerly awaiting the final season which will begin streaming in October. Give this a try.

Jardín de las Elegías

Santiago Rusiñol, Jardín de las Elegías. Circa 1903.

This looks like where I'd like to be — on vacation in a beautiful garden.

On Ray Bradbury's Birthday

"They began by controlling books of cartoons and then detective books and, of course, films, one way or another, one group or another, political bias, religious prejudice, union pressures; there was always a minority afraid of something, and a great majority afraid of the dark, afraid of the future, afraid of the past, afraid of the present, afraid of themselves and shadows of themselves."

Ray Bradbury, "Usher II" (1950)

Ray Bradbury shares a birthday with Hannah ... which I tend to forget. They both share the qualities of being smart as whips, logical, and never fearing to speak the truth. Hannah doesn't have nearly as many best sellers, but there's time.

The Floor Scrapers

The Floor Scrapers, Gustave Caillebotte

This is one of the first paintings to feature the urban working class. It reintroduces the subject of the male nude in the painting, but in a strikingly updated form. Instead of the heroes of antiquity, here are the heroes of modern life—sinewy and strong—in stooped poses that would appear demeaning if they did not convey a sense of masculine strength and honest labor.[5] There is a motif of curls in the image, from the wood shavings on the floor, to the pattern of ironwork in the window grill to the arched backs and arms of the workers. The repetition in the image, with the three workers engaged in different aspects of the same activity but having similar poses, is similar to works by Caillebotte's contemporary, Edgar Degas. — Wikipedia

Scott's hoping for the part of the kingdom with the water park. Julie will take any part that doesn't contain the heath.

 In Episode 338 of A Good Story is Hard to Find we discuss King Lear (2008) starring Ian McKellan

View of the Westerkerk

Jan van der Heyden, View of the Westerkerk, Amsterdam, 1670s
via Wikipedia

It's hard to see in this image but if you look at it larger (say at the Wiki link), you'll see the people going about their daily routines. I know life then was as it is now, messy and confusing sometimes. But these people and the scene look so calm and peaceful.

Fable has strong shoulders

... the abbot of our monastery always said that fable has strong shoulders that carry far more truth than fact can.

Barry Hughart, Bridge of Bird

Coronation of the Virgin

Coronation of the Virgin
Book of Hours (Use of Rome), France, Lyons, c. 1495-1510
by Guillaume II Le Roy

I love picture books pages from books of hours, such as we see here, are always interesting to me. How much more would we get from our devotions if there were wonderfully illustrated paintings to help our imaginations take flight, to aid us in pulling back the veil between us and God?

If nothing else would I be lured into reading more devotional work if I had the pictures to get me to pick it up and open it?

That is a moot point I suppose since such things are still the province of rich men today just as much as they were yesterday. No one would publish them because they would be prohibitively expensive to buy. All the more reason to enjoy these pages from the past which can still enrich our imaginations ... and souls.

Having hope means ...

Having hope means that one will not give in to overwhelming anxiety, a defeatist attitude, or depression in the face of difficult challenges or setbacks. [Hope is] more than the sunny view that everything will turn out all righe; [it is] believing you have the will and the way to accomplish your goals.

Daniel Goleman, Emotional Intelligence

This was quoted in Team of Rivals and there was never a better time than during the Civil War to remember what hope really is. This is something that we could all do with a little more of today.

Lemon Still Life

Paul Coventry-Brown

I haven't featured anything by this artist for a while but every time I go through his online gallery and blog I find so much to love. He is truly an extraordinary artist.

La Femme à l'Ombrelle

Louis Anquetin, La Femme à l'Ombrelle
via French Painters

The Eiffel Tower

La tour Eiffel, Georges Seurat, 1889

This jewel-like painting makes me think of the Eiffel Tower lit at night.

Young Girl Climbing Rocks

Young Girl Climbing on Rocks at Park Guell
taken by Carlos Lorenzo at Barcelona Photoblog

Looking for more summertime photos I went back to 2007 in the Barcelona Photoblog archives and found this beaut. Go to Carlos' place and click on the photo to see it in full screen glory and also his comments.

Better give your path to a dog, than be bitten by him in contesting for the right

No man resolved to make the most of himself can spare time for personal contention. Still less can he afford to take all the consequences, including the vitiating of his temper and loss of self-control. Yield larger things to which you can show no more than equal right; and yield lesser ones, though clearly your own. Better give your path to a dog than be bitten by him in contesting for the right. Even killing the dog would not cure the bite.

Abraham Lincoln, letter to Frank Blair

Lincoln was so unusual in actually living up to these words. I wish we had a few politicians ready to try this themselves.

To meddle in the government of society [is], so to speak, the only pleasure that an American knows

Citizens assemble with the sole goal of declaring that they disapprove of the course of government. To meddle in the government of society and to speak about it is the greatest business and, so to speak, the only pleasure that an American knows. . . . An American does not know how to converse, but he discusses; he does not discourse, but he holds forth. He always speaks to you as to an assembly.

Alexis de Toqueville

It's so interesting to see that we began as we meant to go on. And we're still obsessed with holding forth about politics to this day.

Forty Winks

Forty Winks by Frederick Hall, 1892

 I know just how that donkey feels!