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last modified Oct 26, 2007 at 11:24

Sunday, May 22, 2005

Star Wars Meditation 1

Last week I was watching The Empire Strikes Back in order to get psyched up for Episode III’s arrival, and it occurred to me that there was a definite reason for the superiority of Star Wars over Star Trek. I’m sure that there are several reasons, of course, but the one that came to mind was the presence of the mysterious in Star Wars verses the absense of it in Star Trek. Even though the idea of the Force is not Christian, its presence in Star Wars at least brings to the movies a sense of wonder, of something that transcends us and our intellects. Star Trek, on the other hand, comes across to me as cold and sterile. Because human beings were made to worship the one true God, it resounds more with us to have the presence of religion (albeit a false one) in a story than to have a universe with nothing but scientific achievements, in which man is exalted.

That’s why, in part, I had such a distaste for much of my astronomy class this semester. How can anyone be happy with a universe explained purely by a series of random interactions among particles of matter? What warmth is there in that?

I think that’s also why the fantasy genre in general falls flat when compared to the richness and vitality contained in Tolkien and Lewis. (I should add that I’ve never read these other fantasy books, but we’ve all seen them in bookstores. The covers with their half-naked women and men riding on dragons do not exactly entice one to read them.)

142315 | posted by HogueThe10th at 15:01 | 7 Speak Friend and Enter

Saturday, May 14, 2005

"Doth mine ears deceive me?" a brief play

CAST:

David’s Fifth Vetebra (F. V.),
David’s Head (D. H.),
David’s Right Ear (R.E.),
David’s Left Ear (L. E.),
David’s Blue Eyes (B. E.)
Soul of David: (S. D.)

F.V.: O thou seat of thoughts, source of thick brown hair, head of David,
tell to me—in Latin or English, I care not—hast thou heard that report
that this morn’s sun hath shone upon us, for scarcely can I believe it.

D. H.: What? Doth thou trouble me, burdened down as I am from labors long,
toiling many days in fields of study with scythe reaping ears of Latin,
stalks of Greek, and bushels of I know not what? Doth thou think me so idle
as to bend mine ear in eager hope of idle gossip? Nay, fie on thee, vertebra!

F. V.: Mercy, I pray thee, thou throne of David’s matter gray, and patience.
Hear with thine twin ears the news that succour to me brings.

R. E.: My master bids thee speak, and fill this unpierced lobe with secrets deep.

F. V.: Endless years for me have passed in labors long, though not as long as yours.
A satchel great, with school books filled, hath ever weighed upon me—
yea, that satchel borne by shoulders both, yet pain of tension still me irked.
Long did I yearn for female hands to me massage, easing soreness great.
Long did I call upon thee, thou rounded head (thought big by some) for relief.

D. H.: Well do I know thy pain, vertebra fifth, for labors long did I give thee
that books of learning—source of hurt for thee—might ferried be
from home to school, and there, explained by learned folk,
transpos-ed be within mine bosom, oft called brain by thee.

F. V.: And for that reason—noble cause—hath I long endured. But pray thee, head,
receive with thine ears and thereby hear the wondrous word I bring.

L. E.: How I tingle with eager waiting!

R. E.:May sound waves inexplicably undulating
from thy seat, O vertebra (one of thirty-three) soon illumine those blue eyes,
our cousins, oft considered by maidens fair entrancing and deep.

B. E.: Though never hath our piercing gaze upon thee fall’n, thou bony shield
of spinal cord, we long to see the message new with which thou art entrusted.

F. V: Then hear, O eyes, and see, O ears, and ponder long, O thick-skulled head!
The tidings gladly that I bear are proclamations worth their weight in gold!

D. H.: Wilt thou never speak? Methinks an ache loometh large upon my sky!*
(*meaning uncertain)

F. V.: The soul of David doth even now surge up with joys of new found freedom!

D. H.: Doth mine ears deceive me?
L. E.: Nay, lord, for we speak not.

D. H.: Hath freedom verily come?

F. V.: Yea, lord, its arrival long awaited
hath graced these shores, a ship of liberty and a ship of hope.

(enter soul)

S. D.: Woohoo! I’m done!

141863 | posted by HogueThe10th at 20:40 | 8 Speak Friend and Enter

Sunday, May 8, 2005

The Whiskey Widows

The apartment complex where we live caters mostly to older people, so there are relatively few other college students. When I recently discovered that my Greek professor lives here, I was invited by her to meet another resident, an 87-year-old widow whose husband was lieutenant governor under Earl K. Long. Every day at 5 o'clock this woman has an open-door policy, which means that anyone can stop by and she provides them with a drink.

So Benjamin and I went last Friday and had whiskey and conversation with a bunch of older women (a few men, too). It was great. We stayed for two hours. What a great thing it is to spend time around people who are older than you. We should probably do it more. Of course, when one is offered free drinks, it comes more easily.

141467 | posted by HogueThe10th at 17:23 | 2 Speak Friend and Enter

Thursday, May 5, 2005

Don't forget...

The first Narnia preview can be viewed this Saturday on ABC during the premiere of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. I'm excited.

141303 | posted by HogueThe10th at 14:35 | 7 Speak Friend and Enter