Randy | November 26, 2017
In its ascension, the organization known to the west as ISIS successfully branded itself an unstoppable juggernaut, defiance of which promised a terrible retribution that included such horrors as having your immolation or decapitation broadcast to the world in surprisingly professional “official” releases. Take a nasty looking knife and cut a bound man’s head off […]
Randy | November 19, 2017
In the waning months of 1941, and notwithstanding Hilter’s postponement of Operation Sea Lion in September of 1940, Britain was facing a continued threat of German invasion. In Europe and most every other bit of contested ground, as well as on the high seas, Allied forces were losing to the Axis on every front. Desperate […]
Randy | November 15, 2017
To optimize battlefield effectiveness, the Soldier is trained to rely on his issue weapons, and of those, the rifle is Queen. An excellent example of this philosophy is the United States Marine Corps which states as an absolute that every Marine is a Rifleman, first, foremost, and always, notwithstanding operational specialty, and requires all of […]
Randy | November 5, 2017
Comedy set against the decidedly unfunny backdrop of war isn’t anything new. To name a few examples, we have comedy in all its hues appearing in films like Kelly’s Heroes (WWII), Inglorious Basterds (WWII), Catch 22 (WWII), and MASH (Korean War). On television we have the examples of Hogan’s Heroes (WWII), McHale’s Navy (WSWII), MASH […]
Randy | November 4, 2017
In lofty halls, forked tongues entwine the words of conflict, At once invoking the name of War whilst insisting the Soldiery Stand upon the field for reasons otherwise. That a Soldier exists as the bloody finality of his Nation’s tolerance is forgotten. ~ Take the Fight to the Enemy ~ In a world at war, […]
Randy | October 30, 2017
Vincent Van Gogh was born 30 March 1853 and died 29 July 1890 in a French inn, two days after receiving a gun shot wound to the abdomen that he confessed on his death bed was self-inflicted. His intention has long been held to have been suicide, however in October of 2011, a 960 page […]
Randy | October 29, 2017
“The sagas tell two tales of Freydís – one that marks her as brave and admirable, the other much less so. But the sagas were written centuries after the events they describe, and as we know from reading incarnations of The Bible, influential literature can be depended upon to contain a healthy dose of axe […]
Randy | October 28, 2017
Folklore comes from the same place as Human spirituality in that it springs from a need to understand the forces of the Universe by putting their obvious influences into some sort of context. On a human level, it is also crafted to convey time tested lessons of conduct to each succeeding generation. In this effort […]
Randy | October 27, 2017
In face of the objection that fairy tales will frighten children, C. S. Lewis made some observations that I find particularly applicable to Fathercraft as I understand and practice it. The first was, “Since it is so likely that they will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic […]
Randy | October 24, 2017
Tonight’s Dark Sentiment is an eleven minute short animated film courtesy of the National Film Board of Canada which, notwithstanding its government connection, offers much wondrous grist for our mill. The subject matter for you to enjoy with your after dark tipple tonight meshes so well with what’s already been said here this season, and […]