Gene Edward Veith Jr.'s Blog, page 279
December 30, 2014
The #2 most popular Cranach post of the year
Why do Americans say “merry Christmas,” while the British and denizens of its Commonwealth say “happy Christmas”? Those who Googled that question were directed to this post, which was written for Christmas of 2013: Merry Christmas vs. Happy Christmas. This post was number 3 for most of the year, but for the last few weeks, [Read More...]
December 29, 2014
Plans for this last week of the year
As is our custom here at the Cranach blog, we will devote the days up to and including New Year’s Eve looking back on the year that is ending. Then, starting New Year’s Day, we will look ahead to the year that is beginning. The high points will be on December 31 when we will [Read More...]
Top news stories of 2014
The Associated Press released results of its poll of news directors and editors on what they considered to be the top ten news stories of 2014. The winner: The police killings of Michael Brown and Eric Garner and the consequent protests. This beat out Ebola and the rise of ISIS, which were #2 and #3, [Read More...]
“Frozen” is Entertainer of the Year
If you have young girls in your household, your Christmas gift exchange was probably dominated by “Frozen” merchandise. Now, the computer-animated film has won the AP designation “entertainer of the year,” even though it came out in 2013 and has no human characters. But it is the most successful animation film in history, and it [Read More...]
#3 most popular Cranach blog post of the year
Number 3 was posted not this year at all but way back in March 16, 2012, in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. It gives “St. Patrick’s Breastplate,” the wonderful Christo-centric meditation written by the ancient missionary: Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me.
December 26, 2014
The American themes of “It’s a Wonderful Life”
Columnist Paul Greenberg has written a wonderful column about It’s a Wonderful Life. Read it all. After the jump, I excerpt his points about how the movie deals with some distinctively American themes. He also cites a critic who thinks it’s tragic that George Bailey had to give up his big dreams because of the [Read More...]
Florida passes New York to become #3 in population
The U. S. Census Bureau released new population data revealing that Florida has passed New York in population. The most populous states are now (1) California (2) Texas (3) Florida (4) New York. From Florida Passes New York to Become Nation’s Third Most Populous State, U.S. Census Bureau: By adding an average of 803 new [Read More...]
#4 most popular Cranach post of the year
From January 24, 2014, the fourth most-viewed post on this blog for the year: Ranking states by how corrupt they are.
December 25, 2014
Keeping Christmas
Have a merry and a happy Christmas, everybody. May you. . . Keep “Christ” in Christmas Keep the “mass” in Christmas (by going to church) Keep the “holy” in holidays Keep St. Nicholas, who battled for the deity of Christ at the Council of Nicea, in Santa Claus. Keep the gift of God in your [Read More...]
Why Christmas is on December 25
Touchstone has reposted its most popular article, the scholarly treatment by historian William J. Tighe from 2003 about why the birth of Jesus is celebrated on December 25. And, as he definitively shows, it has nothing to do with any pagan festival. From William J. Tighe via Touchstone Archives: Calculating Christmas: Many Christians think that [Read More...]
