TV Quote of the Week

I was just in it for the sin.
--Nancy Cartwright, The Simpsons, "Treehouse of Horror XVIII"

Quote of the Week

History offers some consolation by reminding us that sin has flourished in every age. Even our generation has not yet rivaled the popularity of homosexualism in ancient Greece or Rome or Renaissance Italy.
--Will and Ariel Durant, The Lessons of History

Pensamientos Acerca de Televisión

Shameless (U.S.): “You'll Know the Bottom When You Hit It”

The first time I saw this episode, I could not help but wonder how many of the people I used to argue with on the Internet saw me as the male equivalent of Fiona Gallagher, particularly the Fiona Gallagher who appeared halfway through this episode. Heck, even I could not help seeing some unflattering parallels between me and Fiona -- and I'm not even Irish. Nor do I drink. And I certainly never owned a building...

TV Quote of the Week

Sin gets us something? Awesome!
--Nancy Cartwright, The Simpsons, "Treehouse of Horror XVIII"

Quote of the Week

Man’s sins may be the relics of his rise rather than the stigmata of his fall.
--Will and Ariel Durant, The Lessons of History

Pop Song of the Week: "It's a Sin"

Yes, I've posted this song before but Lent starts next week so I might as well post it again. Besides, this time I'm posting a cover version made by a young singer named Janet Devlin. It's not the only cover version of this song that exists but it's the one that I like the best so far. I hope you all like it as well.

The Seven Deadly Sins in Latin

1. superbia -- pride.
2. avaritia -- avarice.
3. luxuria -- lust.
4. invidia -- envy.
5. gula -- gluttony.
6. ira -- anger.
7. acedia -- sloth.

Literary Quote I Like

Yesterday's sin becomes tomorrow's virtue.
--Judith in H. A. Keller's Yesterday's Sin

Science Fiction Quote of the Week

Olava said her cult would never endorse killing. Semyonus said the same for his government.

"In previous times," said Lewus,"Olava's church has ordered people killed, and Semyonus' government now does it. You should know that. I am not the only person with a sin."

"You think I needed to be told these things, Lewus?" I said.
--Richard Ben Sapir, The Far Arena

TV Quote of the Week

Can you please not apple-shame me right now? Seriously, I know I committed original sin but at least it's original, I think I deserve some credit for that.
--Lena Dunham, Saturday Night Live, March 8, 2014

The Seven Deadly Sins in Spanish

AKA siete pecados capitales.

1. Lujuria -- Lust.
2. Gula -- Gluttony.
3. Avaricia -- Greed.
4. Pereza -- Sloth.
5. Ira -- Anger.
6. Envidia -- Envy.
7. Soberbia -- Pride.

Movie Quote of the Week

I should've killed myself when he put it in me. After the first time, before we were married, Ralph promised never again. He promised, and I believed him. But sin never dies. Sin never dies. At first, it was all right. We lived sinlessly. We slept in the same bed, but we never did it. And then, that night, I saw him looking down at me that way. We got down on our knees to pray for strength. I smelled the whiskey on his breath. Then he took me. He took me, with the stink of filthy roadhouse whiskey on his breath, and I liked it. I liked it! With all that dirty touching of his hands all over me. I should've given you to God when you were born, but I was weak and backsliding, and now the devil has come home.
--Piper Laurie, Carrie (1976)

Pop Song of the Week: "It's a Sin"

Speaking of sins, 'tis the season to indulge in Catholic guilt. (Not that there's anything wrong with that.)

Mashup of the Week: “It's a Sin”

I was tempted -- no pun intended -- to post the official version of this video next week just before Pilgrim Day but for some odd reason, I like this version better even though I doubt the Pet Shop Boys had anything to do with it.

This version is definitely not safe for work. Or school. Or church. Or even CCD. And I'm probably going to have do some heavy penance for posting it so I hope you all appreciate it.

Random Thoughts

I sincerely pray that some good deeds do go unpunished.

Every so often, I feel like I’m drowning and that all too many people around me are tossing me anchors instead of life preservers.

If I’m not good enough to talk to on a regular basis, then I’m not good enough to be solicited for your cause, no matter how worthy it may otherwise be.

All too often, the only benefit of being an autodidact is knowing what an autodidact is.

Science Fiction Quote of the Week

-- it is not that you have sinned for i know everyone has done the same or similar things or would if they had our gift & i know too that it is nothing serious or abnormal & of course you have decent instincts & are ashamed --

-- just so/ it is that you know what i have done & you know every last little wish & thought & buried uncleanness & in the top of my head i know it doesn’t mean anything but down underneath is all which was drilled into me when i was just a baby & i will not admit to ANYONE else that such things exist in ME --
--Poul Anderson, “Journeys End”

The Seven Deadly Sins of Hollywood

Okay, religious blogger Tom Hoopes has a less dramatic title for this post, but I kinda like my title better.

All kidding aside, I found his post about the "Seven Mistakes Movies Make" to be actually more thoughtful than the usual conservative boilerplate about how Hollywood is "ruining" America. Just because Hollywood's "immorality" is often exaggerated by professional ax-grinders doesn't necessarily mean that there isn't substantial room for improvement.

Sample quote:

What each of these films recognize, though, is that love isn't an emotion, it's a set of actions. Audiences know that's true; it's one reason Titanic did so well, while Pearl Harbor flopped. Titanic is the biggest money-making movie of all time, in large part because the man dies for the woman; his actions, in the end, show true love -- and girls couldn't see it enough.
--Tom Hoopes, "Seven Mistakes Movies Make"

'Nuff said.