At mass yesterday, after the post-communion drum solo, I saw one of the extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion returning to the altar. N...

While teaching short poems, notably  Catullus 85 , I'm fond of saying that if you to put forth a mere two lines of poetry, they ought t...

Peevish, irritable, surly, ill-tempered. This is how we usually define grumpy, but to me it seems a more specific condition: a loss, usuall...

There are many ways to insult a man. You can steal from him, strike him, shout him down, and on and on. Surprisingly few words, however, ar...

Living requires a great deal of work. That much has at least been agreed upon if not since prehistoric times when the caveman first realize...

It's always amusing when someone makes a ridiculous statement and then quickly backpedals to a more sensible position. In person, a f...

It is often remarked that tough times try men's souls, and that in such times they are found firm or lacking. True enough. Less often b...

Directed by Howard Hawks. 1940. Few action heroes have dominated their movies the way Cary grant does  His Girl Friday.  In fact, if you c...

spoilers I step into a room built of cardboard boxes. At its center stand two tables, for cards and pool, and making my way between I inv...

Second presidential terms are fraught with speculation about potential lame-duck status. Does he have enough pull to push his agenda still ...