Week in Review

Films I've Watched

• Sports Scope Ski-Flying (1956) - Fun short about ski jumping
• Jimmy Fund at Home with Joan Crawford (1953) - As a disabled kid, I wish more stars would come out to help children.  Thank goodness for Marlo Thomas and St. Judes!
• Let's Ask Nostradamus (1953) - Gotta love those prediction shorts.  Nostradamus has fascinated people for ages.  I'm not sure why, but when reading his stanzas, I feel like the vagueness of his predictions could be twisted to whatever meaning you wish.  Hindsight can always change things.

Links of the Week

• R.I.P. Arthur Rankin, Jr., an amazing man.  Thank goodness his wonderful specials are with us to provide generations with so much joy.  I can't imagine a Christmas without them.  I know I can't make it through the season without watching Rudolph, Frosty, the Miser Brothers, Nestor, two of the lesser known specials (but my personal favorites) Twas the Night Before Christmas and The Adventures of Santa Claus.

Thora Birch from The Guardian

• I've always wondered what happened to Thora Birch, one of my favorite 1990's/2000's actresses.  She always seemed a bit pessimistic, like myself, so I kind of felt a kinship with her characters.  The Guardian has a piece about what DID happen to Thora.

Pope John Paul II

• Some crazy person stole JPII's blood from a church in Italy.  I adored John Paul II and thought he was a fantastic Pope for us Roman Catholics.  As someone whom has suffered physically their entire life, I think he set a great example to the world about suffering and how life should be lived.  As the Guardian article states, I hope whomever stole it does not use it for nefarious purposes.