What’s Behind Everything?

The Italians have a word for it dietrologia*, literally the study of [what’s] behind.  Nothing is what it appears to be; there’s more to it than meets the eye. *(dee-eh-tro-lo-GEE-ah) I used to roll my eyes at such Italian cynicism, but the ensuing decades have taught...

CABRINI POWER

“Nevertheless, she persisted.”  This modern-day feminist phrase became a national sensation at the 2017 attorney general confirmation hearings for Senator Jeff Session, who found himself the subject of Senator Liz Warren’s wrath. Afterward,...

The Tale of Two Saints

Their celebrations are only two days apart, and St. Patrick and St. Joseph have something in common—one worked for Jesus, the other raised him. We know much about St. Patrick.  He was a Roman by descent, he converted Ireland to Christianity, and he is beloved by...

The Real Father of the Nuclear Age

What was Christopher Nolan thinking? In directing Oppenheimer, which has garnered 13 Academy Award nominations, Nolan relegates Enrico Fermi — the true architect of the nuclear age — to a bit part. J. Robert Oppenheimer served as the director of the Manhattan...

Connecting Dots

Connecting “the dots” is a saying from the Analog Age.  Recall how those dot puzzles entertained us as kids as well as taught us that objects could be hidden in plain sight until you connected the dots?  Today, I’m playing connect the dots with our March...

Ford vs. Capra

A few blogs ago, I wrote about the rise of Irish-born actors currently taking Hollywood by storm: Cillian Murphy, Barry Keoghan, Paul Mescal, et. al.  Victor McLaglen in The Informer (1935) With St. Patrick’s Day coming up, I decided to rent the famous 1935...