Picture Pages, Picture Pages....

"Good evening, Clarice..... It's a pleasure to see you again."


Am I the only one who thinks the College of Cardinals has grievously erred by electing Hannibal Lecter as pope? I mean, really... I was on the fence before, but this... this is something special, indeed. All kidding aside, I don't think this election is any surprise. A bunch of cardinals the previous pope appointed decided to elect his right-hand man as successor. Meet the new pope, same as the old pope. Still, when your nickname among some members of the clergy is "God's Rottweiler" and that nickname sticks... well, I'm not so sure that's a good thing. But I prefer to remain positive about the whole course of events. With this pope, I think my level of guilt about being a Catholic - and the level of guilt I have about feeling guilty for being a Catholic - is unlikely to change substantially. I can look forward to the same amount of angst and indecisiveness as ever. Well done, Rome.

Speaking of Silence of the Lambs.... I was watching the film the other day and every time there was a scene between Hannibal and Clarice I expected this exchange to occur:

"Clarice!?!?"

"Papa!!"

"You get back to your cave this instant."

"But I, I..."

"Thiiiiis INSTANT, young lady!"

"Yes, sir."

"Now I want to make something perfectly plain. No doe of mine is going to be seen with a.... a RED-NOSED REINDEER!"


Anyone else remember that happy little number from one of our favorite Christmas specials? I only mention it because it's the only other time I can remember encountering the name 'Clarice', and since I watched Rudolph so many times as a child and still have it memorized... well, it seemed germane... that's all.

To connect the dots even further, Snopes has a neat little ditty on where Rudolph originally came from. I feel as if Christmas has lost a little of it's luster after reading it, but it makes sense when you think about it. Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet Cupid, Donder, Blitzen..... no Rudolph to be seen amongst that murderers row. In fact, if I were one of those original eight, I'd be pissed if some hard-drinking (oh no? Fine. You tell me where the hell the red nose comes from then) young upstart like Rudolph came along and stole my thunder.

And to close out this ever connected little thread I'll just point out one other fantastic item also located on Snopes.... How'd you like to be the guy buried in THAT plot?