Prayer request from my mother's co-worker

4/17/13

My former student, Fr. Tom Murphy, SJ (Dom Savio class of 1977), asks for prayers on behalf of one of his colleagues in Seattle U's history dept., who has 2 young relatives severely injured in the Boston bombing (both had amputations)--names Jessica (a nurse at Mass Gen) and Patrick (a grad student at BU).

4/18/13 Followup

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/10004227/Boston-bombs-Patrick-and-Jessica-Downes-the-newlyweds-who-both-lost-a-leg-in-the-marathon-attack.html

Dallas season finale

********spoilers ahead*********
Growing up, I loved hearing my parents and their friends/ family talk fondly of the TV show Dallas.  It sounded like this amazing show, appointment television that people would halt their lives for.  I would revel in hearing about "Who Shot JR" or the moment a dead Bobby was revealed quite alive and taking a shower.  These were the kind of tales that, if they were real life would be told with, "If you think it sounds great you can't even imagine being there."  Then last year it happened- TNT announced they were rebooting Dallas and not with a new cast playing the hallowed Ewing clan; they were going to bring in the next generation along side original members Larry Hangman/ JR, Patrick Duffy/ Bobby, and Linda Grey/Sue Ellen!!
I bubbled over with excitement at the idea and the show didn't disappoint.  DVR or not I spent Monday nights last summer watching the show live (rare for me) because I couldn't wait to see what would happen next.  My mother, friends and I would then discuss the show and anticipate what would happen next- I was officially one of the cool kids who was there for Dallas. 
When Larry Hangman passed away this past winter, and the producers announced that they would kill off the character of JR midseason, discussion turned to how they would do it.  My initial reaction was to say suicide.  I think I was half joking but I continued, "I know they'd never do it but I would. Think about it nobody would figure it out, it could happen off camera, and proves nobody can take down JR but JR."  
It being off camera was a must since Hangman didn't think he'd die and, therefore no scenes were written/ filmed of the event.   Other ideas were car accidents, shootings, using doubles cut with old footage, ect.  When the time came for the episode to air, JR was seen on a phone call with his son and, when the camera went on Josh Hutchison/John Ross Hangman was heard saying, "You are my son, tip to tail," followed by gunshots.   A week later the cause of death was revealed as a mugger (something I failed to buy even more than John Ross) and in the last minutes Bobby Ewing reads a letter telling him the truth.  At dinner the next day my parents and friends talked speculation about who it could be- a hit by his own son, life long enemy Cliff Barnes perhaps, and I again stated "Suicide." However this time I really meant it. "I don't know why Dad," I recall whining impatiently when he doubted my outlandish theory. "Maybe he found out he was going to die soon and decided he would do it to not loose control."
Yesterday was the finale and it was time to revel who killed JR.  The ending was hyped to be a shock and, when all the evidence was found Cliff Barnes was indeed charged with the murder.  His plane records stated he was at the scene of the crime, his gun matched the murder weapon, and (thanks to a bit of trickery) he was in possession of JR's stolen belt buckle- definitely enough to indite but, considering their history and the fact that Barnes blew up a rig with his own pregnant daughter on it, not shocking.  Later, when pressured by his son and nephew -who insisted he needed the truth, Bobby read the letter explaining that JR was told by doctors he was near death from cancer, had his friend Bum shoot him, and framed Barnes for the murder to end the Ewing/Barnes feud and insure his family's future. 
Okay so, I lacked the complete motive but considering this is my second season getting to know these characters, I pretty much nailed it.

God Bless Boston

From comedian Patton Oswalt  (https://m.facebook.com/?refsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2F&_rdr#!/pattonoswalt?ref=stream&refid=28&_ft_=qid.5867226972288304073%3Amf_story_key.3693778643340840908)

Boston. Fucking horrible.

I remember, when 9/11 went down, my reaction was, "Well, I've had it with humanity."

But I was wrong. I don't know what's going to be revealed to be behind all of this mayhem. One human insect or a poisonous mass of broken sociopaths.

But here's what I DO know. If it's one person or a HUNDRED people, that number is not even a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a percent of the population on this planet. You watch the videos of the carnage and there are people running TOWARDS the destruction to help out. (Thanks FAKE Gallery founder and owner Paul Kozlowski for pointing this out to me). This is a giant planet and we're lucky to live on it but there are prices and penalties incurred for the daily miracle of existence. One of them is, every once in awhile, the wiring of a tiny sliver of the species gets snarled and they're pointed towards darkness.

But the vast majority stands against that darkness and, like white blood cells attacking a virus, they dilute and weaken and eventually wash away the evil doers and, more importantly, the damage they wreak. This is beyond religion or creed or nation. We would not be here if humanity were inherently evil. We'd have eaten ourselves alive long ago.

So when you spot violence, or bigotry, or intolerance or fear or just garden-variety misogyny, hatred or ignorance, just look it in the eye and think, "The good outnumber you, and we always will."

Three Years Old Today

Celebrity TMI

Somehow I thought that Jason Segel would be blamed for his breakup with Michelle Williams and even thought addiction might be brought into play. This however I didn't see coming.  There is a rumor that Jason Segel is a sex addict and he and Michelle Williams broke up because she couldn’t take it anymore. I mean really I do not need that image in my head- we’ve all seen both of them naked in films but "Sex Addict" and "Can’t take it anymore" illicit some seriously messed up images in my mind.  It probably isn't even true, as most rumors aren't but the visual still crosses my mind.

I am talking some Stephon from Saturday Night Live nightmare kind of images too not just ordinary, run of the mill crazy whips and leather (which in itself kind of just made me have to swallow some of my own sick when it popped in my head)

Oh and the questions- the questions that accompany it. He knows The Muppets- did he bring them into things?! “Hey hon can Kermit and Fozy watch? It really turns me on?” Sure that is okay I guess I can handle it but what if he uses them as sex assistants ( I am thinking primarily of Gonzo right now) and oh my lord what if he called it a three way and did the voices.

Now I am really upset, I really am. And by the way they lived together with Heath Ledger’s seven year old daughter and last April she left her alone with him while she went to San Diego for ComicCon. I don’t think Segel  would ever do anything to Matilda but what could that poor girl have seen him doing when he thought she was asleep?!

Rest In Peace

I want to be him when I grow up

Heath Ledger was born 34 years ago today

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