An Epiphany about A Charlie Brown Christmas

Tonight while watching A Charlie Brown Christmas, I noticed something that has escaped my attention for the past three decades. Early in the episode, Charlie Brown goes to Lucy at her psychiatrist’s booth. Realizing that Charlie Brown needs some direction in his life, she suggests that he should be the director of the Christmas play.Continue reading “An Epiphany about A Charlie Brown Christmas”

On a Dream About The Hobbit

I had a dream last night that I saw an advance screening of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. And I was blown away by it. Not because it returned me to Peter Jackson’s version of Middle-Earth is awesomely spectacular fashion, but because there was something about the film and its narrative style that Jackson hadContinue reading “On a Dream About The Hobbit”

On a Casualty in FOX News’ War on the War on Christmas

Were it not for Talking Points Memo, I wouldn’t have known that FOX News’ war on the War on Christmas had begun. I guess if Black Friday can creep into Thursday, then the War on Christmas can creep into mid-November. And what did I learn? Atheists are attacking A Charlie Brown Christmas in an elementaryContinue reading “On a Casualty in FOX News’ War on the War on Christmas”

On Things I’ve Been Reading

Charlie Brown’s Christmas Stocking Fantagraphics Books Written and Illustrated by Charles Schulz While BOOM! Studios publishes new stories of the Peanuts gang in a monthly comic book and occasional graphic novel, Fantagraphics Books is reprinting Charles Schulz’s classic comic strip in their Complete Peanuts hardcover collections. This month, Fantagraphics released something unusual, a reprint ofContinue reading “On Things I’ve Been Reading”

On a Tragic and Unnecessary Death in Ireland

I’ve been pondering this since yesterday. A woman in Ireland, Savita Halappanavar, began to miscarry her child. She asked for an abortion but the hospital refused. Several times over a period of days while she suffered in pain.. Ultimately, the body expelled the dead fetus, but Ms. Halappanavar now had blood poisoning and she died.Continue reading “On a Tragic and Unnecessary Death in Ireland”

On What I Want for Doctor Who’s 50th-Anniversary

My last panel at Philcon this weekend was on 50 years of Doctor Who. It was a very good panel — it was mainly about why the series has lasted as long as it has, and there was also some good questions from the large audience. (It was the best attended panel I experienced allContinue reading “On What I Want for Doctor Who’s 50th-Anniversary”