Camilla: You, sir, should unmask.
Stranger: Indeed?
Cassilda: Indeed, it's time. We all have laid aside disguise but you.
Stranger: I wear no mask.
Camilla: (Terrified, aside to Cassilda.) No mask? No mask!

The King in Yellow (Act II, Scene ii)

Regnat non regitur qui nihil nisi quod vult facit

Feast of the First Martyrs of the Church of Rome
On the Sounder Train, near Sumner, Washington

Dear and faithful reader,

I've been sleeping poorly, mostly due to continuing nightmares in which my son prominently features.

To take my mind from this troubled vale (and perhaps to entertain or excite you, my one faithful reader), I present some interesting links.

Jackson dies, almost takes Internet with him - best recent news headline

Carcosa intrudes: the astounding Amargosa Opera House of Marta Becket.

And speaking of Carcosa, here is an extremely interesting essay on Beauty and Desecration: explaining why "we must rescue art from the modern intoxication with ugliness". Just fascinating.

Yesterday being the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, I was reminded of a place I found beautiful: the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. Nowadays, you can tour part of it without ever going to Rome.

Those who enjoy maps, or history, or the shady edge of myth may enjoy the Atlas of True Names.

Just when you thought the world could not possibly be any more surreal, here come the superheroes.

Speaking of surreal, go read a few of Greg Homer's book reviews.

And then there's the physicist trying to build a time machine.

I think that should be enough for now.

(or double your money back)

Doctor Smith, I presume?

Minas Tirith is matchsticks!

Insurance won't pay for cure - but will pay for suicide.

Steampunk cellphone huzzah!

Presenting Sir Terrance of Pratchett

Libraries

Invisible library

Desperately in need of amusement, and, having found some things that amused (or amazed) me recently, I thought I'd share them in this forum with you, my one reader.

The deeply weird platypus is even weirder than you thought.

Gregorian chanting can reduce blood pressure and stress.

And finally, I recommend to you, my dear reader, this essay: C. S. Lewis and the Star of Bethlehem: Recovering the medieval imagination.

Try to get over the fact that Mr Lewis was a Christian, and this essay by Mr Michael Ward appears in Christianity Today. This essay is Important.

[T]he medieval universe was "tingling with anthropomorphic life, dancing, ceremonial, a festival not a machine".

Somewhere along the line, our western view of the universe changed from Mythopoeic to Mechanical. Fair enough; I like my electric toaster just as much as the next fellow.

But our mode of imagining the universe largely changed in the same way, and something vital and wondrous in our civilization died.

Or perhaps it only slumbers, and raises again its hoary head from time to time and shakes the rime from its beard. Or perhaps the whole idea of the universe as a metaphor for itself in anything but mathematics is irrational.

Frankly, I've sometimes found myth more rational than math, but perhaps that's just the way my imagination works.

Anyhow, read the essay. Then come back here and tell me what you think.

And, if possible, relate it to the platypus. And Gregorian chant.

Edited to add: Mr David Brooks writes an essay about the essay that pegs it.

Oh, you knew it was coming.



Lolcraft linky

I have been unemployed now since All Saints Day, November 1. My state unemployment claim has been denied, so as of this moment I have officially zero income.

OK, that's not quite true. I've been doing some odd publishing and layout contracts, but this is not going to pay the mortgage. Or the wedding.

So I've been going to Tulley's every morning, just to keep a steady routine. They've got a conference room with a great view of the Tacoma streets that I'm using as my own private looking for work office.

I've also been doing a lot of work on Cruenti Dei. I seriously underestimated the amount of work these maps would be. I've got two more difficult ones to do, and then a handful of easy ones, similar to the sample posted.

Come hell or high water, the rule book is going to the printers on Saturday.

For your pleasure, some links to make your day shine.

Lovecraft computer games

Adopt a penguin

Steampunk Dalek

The Castaigne Collection

... and therefore I believe the President and Vice President of the United States must be impeached.

What a wonderful world in which we wander.

Traveller returns!

Color Out of Space now playing in Peru

Belgium for Sale (thanks, jaynefury)

Nuns paying for the sins of morons (only slightly paraphrased)

Tacoma's Moving Sidewalks

Just working like crazy. Doing what I did for Visitation Catholic School for Holy Rosary School.

And what exactly have I done for VCS? Well, our PK-8 June 1 2006 enrollment number was 118; for June 1 2007 it was 141. Right now we're at 152, which is just five shy of where we ended last year, and we still have the prime August recruiting season to go.

As of this morning, our Pre-K at Visitation is full at 18 students, and our satellite Pre-K at St. Ann stands at three students. Now, you might think three isn't such a hot number, but most Pre-K and K registrations typically happen in August. This time last year, our main Pre-K stood at five, and we ended the year there with fourteen, plus nine at St. Ann.

Did I mention our Pre-K at Visitation is full?

I think what I'm trying to say here is woo hoo!

In lieu of actual content, here are some news links to keep you amused.

The shame of 'Hello Kitty'

Reincarnation in China now requires a license

The Cardinal who said kaddish for his mother

Sardarthion Press gets a makeover

Enjoy!

(... and therefore I believe the President and Vice President of the United States must be impeached.)

Just some random things I've discovered in the last week.

Vicipædia

Belgian military deployed to combat caterpillars

The Secret Commonwealth (also available on Amazon)

Civilian Inmate Labor Program