NEW UPLOAD: Ballads, Blunders & the OK Corral — Breaking Down “The Gunfighters” (Secrets of Doctor Who)
https://youtu.be/CgatmONE2Yw?si=chAEG...
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I have some pre-records of Catholic Answers Live coming up. Does anyone have any questions they'd like to ask?
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33 years ago today (August 22), I was received into the Catholic Church, though I'm delaying the celebration until tomorrow in union with Pope Leo's call for fasting and prayer for peace.
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Random Thoughts in Rome
Based on prior experience, have to display a little more self-defensive situational awareness when walking public streets (as in any big, crowded city).
Feels weird not having a hunting knife on my hip at all times. Keep having occasions to use it as a tool (eg opening packages).
This part of Italy looks a lot like California, geographically.
In the city, lots of tall architecture of mixed styles. Pretty and interesting to look at. Some scenes remind me of the MC Escher lithograph Castrovalva.
The local street vendors are mainly north or subsaharan African.
They are multilingual and have excellent English.
They are friendly and hustling, so compliments on that.
Today’s most common lines of approach are, “Hey! Are you from Africa? You look like you’re from Africa,” pointing to the skin on their forearm and mine (I’ve had that one at least 5 times today). Also, “I like your (gestures to chin to indicate beard)” (2-3 times) and “please take this free bracelet. It will bring you good luck.”
Unfortunately—as with nuclear war in the movie War Games—the only way to win against the (friendly!) aggressive sales tactics is not to play and say “no, thank you” or just “no” while continuing to go about one’s business.
People talk about it being hot in July here, but it feels the same as Arkansas in the summer. No big deal.
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Howdy, folks! I have some pre-records of Catholic Answers Live coming up. Does anybody have any questions they would like to ask?
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Yay! My YouTube award for passing 100,000 subscribers arrived today! Thanks to all who helped make it possible!
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Tonight's dinner in honor of the 1st American pope . . . and one from Chicago: Chicago-style deep dish pizza! (I'm suspending my normal diet and meatless Friday for tomorrow's leftovers.)
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Thanks to those who have reported the user posing as JimmyAkin0 (jimmy akin zero) to me. I have reported the user to YouTube for impersonation and sought to ban him from my channel. However, I haven't been able to verify that the latter is happening. YouTube does not give me the tools needed to search comments for his handle, and that's what I really need to ensure that he's gone. WHAT WOULD HELP ME MOST OF ALL IS TO SEND ME A *LINK*--NOT JUST A SCREEN GRAB--TO A COMMENT HE POSTS IF YOU SEE ONE AGAIN. THANKS!
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I've been listening to various people on YouTube doing their covers of "Journey of the Sorcerer" by the Eagles (also used as the theme from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy). I've been very disappointed by the fact that almost all of these covers FAIL to include the final part of the song, which is a banjo version of "Soldier's Joy"--a song most often associated with the Civil War but whose tune actually goes back to the 1700s.
To my mind, this fundamentally MISUNDERSTANDS the logic of the song. "Journey of the Sorcerer" has four parts. There are three surges of music of its mysterious main theme (which everyone covers), followed by a fourth part of "Soldier's Joy," which is a happy tune. This is the completion of the sorcerer's journey. After struggling forward three times, he finally reaches a place of peace and contentment, represented by "Soldier's Joy." To leave off the last part leaves the sorcerer's journey incomplete. Not cool!
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We're now in a new mysterious year, so let's look back and find out your favorite episode topics on Jimmy Akin's Mysterious World from 2024! Take this survey, and help us find out what you liked! www.surveymonkey.com/r/5GHN3NV
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