The Hound Of Ulster

It’s right HERE:

This will be the 25th Notre Dame graduation during my time as bishop. After much prayer, I have decided not to attend the graduation. I wish no disrespect to our president, I pray for him and wish him well. I have always revered the Office of the Presidency. But a bishop must teach the Catholic faith “in season and out of season,” and he teaches not only by his words — but by his actions.

My decision is not an attack on anyone, but is in defense of the truth about human life.

…

Even as I continue to ponder in prayer these events, which many have found shocking, so must Notre Dame. Indeed, as a Catholic University, Notre Dame must ask itself, if by this decision it has chosen prestige over truth.

Tomorrow, we celebrate as Catholics the moment when our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, became a child in the womb of his most holy mother. Let us ask Our Lady to intercede for the university named in her honor, that it may recommit itself to the primacy of truth over prestige.

I think they’re TRYING to copy/update THIS.  But the quarter century limit seems to have produced some strange entries, like The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at #17.  I’m not comfortable even calling that a good film, let alone one of the Best Conservative films in recent memory.  (I also wonder if everyone means the same thing by “conservative” here.  Some of the blurbs would suggest otherwise.  That’s what Stuttaford THOUGHT, too.)

#25 - GRAN TORINO
#24 - TEAM AMERICA: WORLD POLICE
#23 - UNITED 93
#22 - BRAZIL
#21 - HEARTBREAK RIDGE
#20 - GATTACA
#19 - WE WERE SOLDIERS
#18 - THE EDGE
#17 - THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE
#16 - MASTER AND COMMANDER
#15 - RED DAWN
#14 - A SIMPLE PLAN
#13 - BRAVEHEART
#12 - THE DARK KNIGHT
#11 - THE LORD OF THE RINGS
#10 - GHOSTBUSTERS
#9 - BLAST FROM THE PAST
#8 - JUNO
#7 - THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS
#6 - GROUNDHOG DAY
#5 - 300
#4 - FOREST GUMP
#3 - METROPOLITAN
#2 - THE INCREDIBLES
#1 - THE LIVES OF OTHERS

As I look at some of these selections, I come to the realization that “Best” is clearly meant to modify “Conservative” here, and not “Movies.”  Because I can only think of about 5 or 6 of these that I would consider great films.  (A correlary: I don’t think the order is important.  At least I sure hope it isn’t.  If 300 and Forest Gump are towards the top of just about any list, I’m not thrilled. )

Of all of Ramirez’s glowing statistics and accomplishments, nothing stands out as this: In 16 Major League seasons, he has played on one with a losing record, and his teams (Cleveland and Boston before Los Angeles) have gone a cumulative 368 games over .500.

It appears to be DONE.  I like that Ned and Frank pretty much paid him what they offered him 4 1/2 months ago.  Way to stand firm, guys.  (Not sure what this means for Boras.  I’m sure he’ll spin it into a “win,” though.)

Stark’s got a bit MORE.
 
 

That’s Jamie Bell.  And he’s the new TINTIN:

Steven Spielberg has set his cast for “The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn,” the first installment in the 3-D motion-capture trilogy that Paramount Pictures and Sony Pictures Entertainment are co-financing.

“Billy Elliot” thesp Jamie Bell will star as the titular character, an intrepid young reporter whose relentless pursuit of a good story thrusts him into a world of high adventure. Daniel Craig will co-star as the nefarious Red Rackham.

Film, which has been cloaked in secrecy during pre-production, has begun principal production in Los Angeles. It is set for release in 2011.

I’m pretty neutral on Bell.  Just another sign of Jackson’s influences, methinks.  He doesn’t look as mischevious as SANGSTER did, and I’m pretty sure there’s no ballet involved.  But Bell’s age seems to be a lot closer to Herge’s intentions.

I love Craig as Rackham.  I’m also pleased that they’re starting with The Secret of the Unicorn.  It was Herge’s personal favorite, at least until Tintin in Tibet.  And it’s got a longer story arc, if I remember correctly - Unicorn, Red Rackham’s Treasure, and then (depending on your view) The Seven Crystal Balls and Prisoners of the Sun. 

Makes a lot of sense from a “this might be a huge hit, and we’ll want to make a lot of others, so let’s have something lined up ” perspective.  Which is lightyears better than the “Indiana Jones was huge, but we don’t have any idea what else we want to do, so let’s just cook up something totally absurd” one.