Napoleon Skywalker

I know you probably thought it would be way too good to have the two best movies in one, but just when you were about to head into despair because you could never see Napoleon Dynamite and Star Wars at the same time, here is what you have been searching for this whole time. Yep, you guessed it. The one and only NAPOLEON SKYWALKER. (He must be either Anakin's father or Luke's son. It is not clear.)

Pray for the Holy Father

The following prayer was composed by Bishop William E. Lori, supreme chaplain, for the Spiritual Pilgrimage with His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on his Nov. 28-Dec. 1 pastoral visit to Turkey.

Heavenly Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name, we humbly ask that you sustain, inspire, and protect your servant, Pope Benedict XVI, as he goes on pilgrimage to Turkey – a land to which St. Paul brought the Gospel of your Son; a land where once the Mother of your Son, the Seat of Wisdom, dwelt; a land where faith in your Son’s true divinity was definitively professed. Bless our Holy Father, who comes as a messenger of truth and love to all people of faith and good will dwelling in this land so rich in history. In the power of the Holy Spirit, may this visit of the Holy Father bring about deeper ties of understanding, cooperation, and peace among Roman Catholics, the Orthodox, and those who profess Islam. May the prayers and events of these historic days greatly contribute both to greater accord among those who worship you, the living and true God, and also to peace in our world so often torn apart by war and sectarian violence.

We also ask, O Heavenly Father, that you watch over and protect Pope Benedict and entrust him to the loving care of Mary, under the title of Our Lady of Fatima, a title cherished both by Catholics and Muslims. Through her prayers and maternal love, may Pope Benedict be kept safe from all harm as he prays, bears witness to the Gospel, and invites all peoples to a dialogue of faith, reason, and love. We make our prayer through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The Nativity Story

Why have I not heard of this coming film until now? Am I behind? Does everyone else know about this film on the story of the Nativity, releasing on December 1st, except for me. I wouldn't be surprised! That's what happens I guess when you live your life with your face stuck in the books of Hegel, Ricoeur, or Aristotle.

I am very impressed, however, that this movie will be coming out. It seems it will be very good and has been very well done (in terms of historical and cultural accuracy), judging from the trailers and other clips on The Nativity Story website. Although, I can't help but think that people's experience of this film will be tainted by too much bickering over details, viz., the details surrounding the degree of Mary's knowledge of who this Child is, or how (for Catholics perhaps most likely) Mary will inevitably be "inaccurately" portrayed as being perhaps too "human," in the finite sense of humanity, and not living up to her status as immaculate. I have already seen a review of someone complaining that Joseph was portrayed too young. Indeed, in the past, I myself would have assuredly caused a debate over such details. Although they are not necessarily unimportant, I can see now how the most important thing is how people experience God in the film and may come to a closer relationship; I am sick of all the bickering between Christians on these points and think Christians as a whole should good-heartedly promote this film. This movie will be excellent for that; I was moved simply from seeing the trailers.

"The Nativity Story chronicles the arduous journey of two people, Mary and Joseph, a miraculous pregnancy, and the history-defining birth of Jesus." Starring Keisha Castle-Hughes (Whale Rider, Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith (as Queen of Naboo)) as Mary and Oscar Issac (Guerrilla) as Joseph.

In any case, I think it's amazing that these high quality films on the life of Christ are continually being released. The Passion of the Christ has set a precedent in contemporary film, at least to the extent that it gives hope to Christian film-makers, insofar as it shows that such movies can actually be released and do well in the public square. I'm greatly looking forward to this one.

Excellence in German Film

Who ever said Germans couldn't make movies? Granted, German films are not all that common, the film, Run Lola Run (1998), directed by Tom Tykwer, is an excellent film that gives Germans a name for themselves in film. Tykwer has directed a number of films since this one, his most recent being the movie currently in theaters, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, as well as Ich Dich Auch, also in 2006.

Lola Rennt, or Run Lola Run, is a film simply about a girl's (Lola) attempts to obtain $100,000 in twenty minutes to save her boyfriend (Manni) from death by a mobster boss if the money is not obtained in that time. The process of trying to obtain the money is repeated three times, each time showing how the different actions on Lola's part play out both in the future lives, and the immediate circumstances, of those she encounters.

Professor Stewart showed this film today in the Basic Philosophical Questions (BPQ) course for which I am currently teaching assisting. Needless to say it generated some good discussion, especially about the spiritual significance and symbolism of the "third attempt" and the comparison of the three attempts to discover the (many times very subtle) interconnections. Check it out!

Star Wars Episode III: A Lost Hope

"Your journey to the Dark Side is almost complete" ... "and screwed we all will be."

Here are some scene's Lucas forgot to include in the new prequal editions.



I know, I confess, I'm on a stupidvideos kick right now. This is just too good to pass up!

Bush on Global Warming

With President Bush's presidency nearing an end here in less than only two more years. It is of the utmost importance to be attentive, in his remaining time left, to all the enriching wisdom our "commander and chief of the world" has to offer our Nation, the great United States of America.

Below is a link to a very important special address on global warming that must be heeded by America's citizens, especially, in our time. We learn some very important information in this address, such as, that global warming is "increasing lava flows," that the president begins his day "thinking about the warming of the globe," that "Adam and Eve drove an Excursion," and that another important issue is "keeping steroids out of T-ball."

Anyway here is the link: Bush on Global Warming.



note: no disrespect to the president is intended by this post.

"Praise of Folly": Between Erasmus and St. Paul

From my blog title, "Praise of Folly," it is immediately evident I'm implying a double reference. First, it is meant as a tribute to Desiderius Erasmus and his great satire of the corruption of the Church in Praise of Folly, which he wrote while staying at the home of Thomas More (now Saint) immediately after his visit to Rome, and who had meant the original Greek title to be a pun on More's name: Moriae Encomium. The author of the Introduction of the Penguin edition of this work states that "Erasmus, just back from Italy, was ill, disillusioned at the state of the Church under Julius II...." Erasmus, in satirical fashion, moves "from lighthearted banter to a serious indictment of theologians and churchmen," while implementing this theme that I have also emphasized (and is my second reference): St. Paul's outstanding description of "the folly of the Cross" in the first chapter of the first letter to the Corinthians. This Corinthian reference I have quoted in my blog description.

Whether this title will necessarily have any indication of what the contents of my blog will be, I have no idea. But I needed another blog, other than my first, The Charioteer, to discuss something other than philosophy, and so as not to express only the current philosophical happenings in my life. Therefore, I hope this blog will contain more about my life, per se (and not only my thoughts). But I run into the problem of being unable to separate the two. So if I get too "intellectual," so they say, or what is so-called, "abstract," like the the first part of this post may perhaps boarder on, I will try to keep in mind what an undergraduate professor of mine once said: philosophers have this annoying tendency to think that the average person actually puts in serious scrutiny their own conscious experience! In other words, philosophers tend to think everyone thinks in the philosophical manner they do! This, of course, is not as much a jab on the "average person" as it is on philosophers--They're the eccentric ones...not everyone else!

Yes, I admit it. But isn't everyone a philosopher? Indeed. Of course, not in the strict sense, but in a general one, insofar as we all ask question. Now, I am studying to be one of those "philosophers" in a strict sense, but I also think, even in studying philosophy, I haven't lost my childlike or even practical side. In fact, the professor of the Intro to Philosophy course which I'm currently a Teaching Assistant for, said to the class that, "don't you know an adult is only a child in a big body." And he further explains how this becomes most apparent to those who have ever experienced being a parent to one's own (elderly) parents. Professor Stewart, despite his extremely eccentric film scripts about, of example, a giant pimple taking over Los Angeles, etc., has a great academic attitude that is worth exemplifying and learning from; it is because he doesn't have an academic attitude! He is furthest from the "professorial" cliche.

In short, I want to a place to comment in a not strictly so-called, philosophical manner. If, however, the reader does want to read my occasional philosophical musings, please see my blog, The Charioteer at soaringauriga.blogspot.com. I am currently involved in an interesting comparison between Martin Heidegger and Max Scheler, among other things.

"And so I'll say goodbye. Clap your hands, live well, and drink, distinguished initiates of FOLLY."