Welcome to the Ink Desk
Enjoy the ponderings of the Star's contributors and add your own thoughts. As this section develops, we hope it may become a medium for an exchange of ideas among those who are working towards the cultural revival.
-
May 19th, 2011“The Dot and the Line”by Sophia Mason
I love Bugs Bunny. Elmer Fudd is awesome (and yes, I would vote for him if the Republicans nominated him to run against you-know-who in the next election). Chip and Dale were my heroes as I grew up. Road Runner is all that I have ever aspired to be—thin, charming, successful, the underdog who always ends up on top, the very-truly-run-after . . .
» Continue Reading -
May 17th, 2011Father Peter Milward’s Feedback on the Children’s Literature Issueby Joseph Pearce
I was delighted to receive an e-mail from the internationally-acclaimed Shakespeare scholar, Father Peter Milward S.J., offering his positive views on our recent issue on children's literature (March/April 2011). With his permission, I'm publishing the text of his e-mail here:
» Continue Reading -
May 16th, 2011Barack Obama in an Oscar-Winning Performanceby Joseph Pearce
A correspondent has sent me a link to a wonderful spoof on the film version of Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray, starring Barack Obama and co-starring Dick Cheney and Sarah Palin, amongst others.
» Continue Reading -
May 16th, 2011Teleprompter-us Rexby Kevin O'Brien
Over at Facebook, I was foolish enough to criticize the film The King's Speech, in a post which has attracted 37 comments so far, some from people who take critiques of films they like very personally. So I figured I might as well spread the controversy to the blogosphere.
» Continue Reading -
May 12th, 2011Aristotle Versus Darwinby Joseph Pearce
The exchange with my "pro-evolution" correspondent has been continuing. I thought I'd share part of my latest reply:
» Continue Reading -
May 11th, 2011W.S. Gilbert on Darwinian Manby Joseph Pearce
Following on from the serious Darwinian controversy aired earlier, a correspondent drew my attention to W. S. Gilbert's witty broadside against the naked ape. Without further ado, here it is:
» Continue Reading -
May 10th, 2011GKC on the BBCby Joseph Pearce
It's good to be able to say something positive about the BBC. The Beeb, as it is called in Blighty, has recently aired a half hour documentary on Chesterton's Father Brown, hosted and narrated by Ann Widdicombe, the former Conservative government minister who is a convert to Catholicism.
» Continue Reading -
May 10th, 2011Controversy and Creationismby Joseph Pearce
As I suspected, our recent issue on the theme of "Science versus Scientism" has caused an element of controversy. Most particularly, Hugh Owen's article, "Darwin Revisited: The Negative Impact of the Evolutionary Hypothesis on Scientific Research", has met with some objections. Here's my response to a recent correspondent on this subject:
» Continue Reading -
May 10th, 2011Rome Sweet Romeby Joseph Pearce
I've just returned from a sojourn in Rome. The purpose of the visit was to present a paper at a conference at Santa Croce University on "The Dawn of Christian Literature in the Twentieth Century". Whilst there I found time to ensure that the working trip was also a pilgrimage, visiting quite a few churches and praying at the shrines of sundry saints, most particularly the tomb of St. Monica in San Agostino's (having taken a few moments to admire the Caravaggio masterpiece in one of the side chapels). The highlight, as always, was the pilgrimage to St. Peter's.
» Continue Reading -
May 3rd, 2011Lewis’ Aeneidby Sophia Mason
This comes courtesy of a Facebook friend (wonderful, isn't it, how the most benighted forms of technology can occasionally work to the good?). I've long been a fan of C.S. Lewis, but somehow I managed to miss the information that among all his other bits of poetry he had at one time tried his hand at translating Virgil's Aeneid.
» Continue Reading -
May 2nd, 2011New Work from Katie Schmidby Joseph Pearce
Katie Schmid, a fine young Catholic artist whose work has been featured in the pages of StAR, has recently completed a commission for the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Center at Purdue University. This comprises fourteen new paintings depicting the Stations of the Cross, and a new painting of the Madonna and Child, entitled "The Madonna of the Woods".
» Continue Reading -
April 28th, 2011Tolkien Inspired Original Paintings for Saleby Joseph Pearce
If anyone has around $2,500 that they'd like to spend as a matter of urgency, and for some reason beyond my fathoming would rather not offer it as a donation to the Saint Austin Review, they might like to visit the auction of two original Tolkien-inspired paintings currently exciting interest on e-bay.
» Continue Reading -
April 28th, 2011There Be Dragonsby Joseph Pearce
The new film, There Be Dragons, released worldwide next week, is a must-see for serious Catholics. Based on a true story and set against the murderous backdrop of the Spanish Civil War and the role of St. José Maria Escriva and Opus Dei during those turbulent times, it's a veritable breath of fresh air amidst the stench of Hollywood's secularist agenda.
» Continue Reading -
April 27th, 2011Speaking Engagements for Mayby Joseph Pearce
This Friday and Saturday I am giving three talks at the Greater Milwaukee Catholic Homeschool Conference. I'll be giving my personal tesimony, i.e. my conversion story, and will also "unlock" the Catholic dimension of The Lord of the Rings. The third talk will be on "the battle for a true education".
» Continue Reading -
April 27th, 2011A Meditation on Meditationsby Dena Hunt
On Easter Monday, I read a meditation that a friend had given me. I believe the publishers strive for—what shall we call it? Balance? Variety, maybe? Whatever they might call it, their aim must be an attempt to please everyone, which, as we all know, displeases everyone at some point or other. On Easter Monday, I was a displeased reader.
» Continue Reading -
April 27th, 2011Mystery and Marriageby Kevin O'Brien
"If you beat me at Scrabble, I will marry you."
This I said to Karen early in our relationship.
Nine years later, she still hadn't beaten me at Scrabble, and I still hadn't married her.
» Continue Reading -
April 27th, 2011New Saints on EWTNby Joseph Pearce
Ahead of the beatification of John Paul II this weekend, EWTN is highlighting some of the saints who were canonized during JPII's pontificate. Brian O'Neel, author of 39 New Saints You Should Know, is being interviewed every day this week on the EWTN show "Women of Grace" at 11am and repeating at 11:30 pm Eastern time. In case you don't know your local EWTN station, go to this website, type in your zip, et voila!
» Continue Reading -
April 26th, 2011More Gaelic Beautyby Joseph Pearce
Yesterday I posted a link to a beautiful Marian gaelic hymn. Here's something equally beautiful in the same vein.
» Continue Reading -
April 25th, 2011The Lord of the Rings: Pagan or Christian?by Joseph Pearce
I've contributed an essay to a new collection of essays on The Lord of the Rings, edited by by BYU history professor, Paul Kerry. The book, entitled The Ring and the Cross, has just been published. Here's an article on the debate between paganism and Christianity in Middle-earth, as discussed in Kerry's book:
» Continue Reading -
April 25th, 2011A Gaelic Hymn to the Virginby Joseph Pearce
A correspondent has forwarded me this interesting link to a beautiful folk rendition of a Marian hymn whose title translates as "Star of the Sea."
» Continue Reading
Please Visit
CMG Booking
Subscribe to Our Blog
RSS: Ink Desk
Can't make it to the pub? Sign up to read stimulating articles from our international contributors.
Reading List
The Autobiography of G.K. Chesterton
Here is a special two-in-one book that is both by G.K. Chesterton and about Chesterton. This volume offers an irresistible opportunity to see who this remarkable man really was. Chesterton was one of the most stimulating and well-loved writers of the 20th century. His 100 books, and hundreds of essays…
What are your thoughts on the subject?