http://disqus.com/by/brickmpj/enMon, 17 Dec 2018 14:59:34 -0000https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2018/12/07/heres-how-a-jesuit-school-in-ohio-is-responding-to-sexual-abuse-allegations/#comment-4245485095<p>As someone who had Fr. Guiao as a teacher in 2002-2003 at Saint Ignatius High School, I can say that, from what I know of the man and what I experienced during my four years at the school, his concern is genuine and apology sincere. And while I am an agnostic now, I look back very fondly on my time at Ignatius, the Jesuits generally, and Fr. Guiao specifically. That school taught me to be merciful, intellectually brave, and to approach spiritual/personal/emotional/agricultural/surgical/whimsical/etc. concerns with a real earnestness. That all has helped me, to this day, avoid the ever-creeping cynicism brought on by life's darker aspects. I'll forever be grateful for that. And, despite my agnosticism, I'll probably send my son there, if I ever have one.</p>brickmpjMon, 17 Dec 2018 14:59:34 -0000http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/04/mad-men-the-woman-who-can-save-don-draper/360952/#comment-1350207819<p>Sally Draper is a God-send to Don, just as Ms. Shipka is a God-send to us all.</p><p>This honesty with Sally has to feel much more reckless to Don than any of his prior indiscretions. His answers were pretty ugly (I cheat, I got fired-ish, my wife and I are on the outs, I'm ashamed of all of this). But, it wasn't the content of those answers that got him the love he never thought he'd get or deserve. It's as if honesty itself got him that love. That is the exact opposite of his prior means of getting by in the world.</p><p>I mean, can you imagine after an entire lifetime of running from yourself, changing your identity, becoming an expert in lies, and then, in the few honest moments you've had with one of the few permanent fixtures in your life, you are met with, "I love you"? That had to have been completely unexpected. This daughter of mine that I have disappointed and ignored, the one innocent bystander who has seen the worst of me, she loves me, whatever I am...</p><p>Kids ask questions, and Sally has been asking for some time now, "Who are you?" But, she senses that that's an unanswerable question. After all, nobody knows who Don is, not even Don. And in their forced interactions following "the incident", this question quickly transitioned to "Why are you?", as in "How could you do this?"</p><p>That moment when Don begins to answer her, though, when he takes her to the house he grew up in, she begins to truly ask "Why are you?" - but this time, it's not out of incredulity, it's a question of interest and mercy, a question with love as its predicate. This latest episode, the scenes in the car and diner, are an extension and a "working through" of that.</p><p>How will Don react? His first instinct is still to lie out of shame, remember. He needs an external catalyst to hold him accountable, at least when it comes to honesty (he is making strides by measuring his drinking, taking lunches, etc.). So far, Sally has been that catalyst. Will he continue down this road of recovery? Will there be any setbacks? Will he soak himself in regret over an entire lifetime of choosing what he is increasingly realizing was the wrong way to live? I have no idea, but I am enjoying the ride.</p>brickmpjTue, 22 Apr 2014 09:29:29 -0000http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/04/the-em-mad-men-em-season-7-premiere-the-same-old-don-draper/360585/#comment-1337768455<p>Thank you kindly. I really do appreciate it.</p>brickmpjTue, 15 Apr 2014 10:57:44 -0000http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/04/the-em-mad-men-em-season-7-premiere-the-same-old-don-draper/360585/#comment-1336520721<p>Thank you, sir. I appreciate the kind words. If we ever meet, I will buy you an Old Spanish.</p>brickmpjMon, 14 Apr 2014 17:46:37 -0000http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/04/the-em-mad-men-em-season-7-premiere-the-same-old-don-draper/360585/#comment-1336215911<p>That closing scene is what did it for me...</p><p>Don couldn't get the door to shut. The door, the wound, it's stuck open now. In the past, the cold was merely seeping in, and he used to be able to treat that with avoidance (sex, alcohol, work, self-destruction, exposing Ted and Peggy's feelings for one another, etc.). But, now, he opened the door and went out to sit in it...</p><p>Don appears to be making conscious choices to explore himself, now. Where have I been, how did I get here, what does that mean going forward for me/my marriage/my family, how do I deal with this, etc? And he's taking refuge in a semi-healthy way - redoubling his efforts to do good work. It's imperfect, of course, because, well, he's Don. He's still having stolen moments of honesty with strangers instead of with the people in his life, and he is still lying to Megan about work/their relationship. But, it's a sympathetic lie. He is embarrassed, terrified, and jet-lagged over this process. After all, what are "Time Zones"? They are distance, and to cross them takes disorienting effort.</p><p>He wants to be better, but, from his perspective, coming clean would be like performing surgery with a chainsaw. Why destroy everything around him in an effort to make things better? This is his mess and, for better or worse, he will try to fix it in the dark so there is as little collateral damage as possible. It's almost commendable as a base form of mercy. It's also complicated, pitiable, mysterious, and sympathetic, which is the best of Mad Men.</p>brickmpjMon, 14 Apr 2014 14:50:40 -0000http://www.ohio.com/news/local/reaction-to-supreme-court-health-care-decision-1.317204#comment-572013084<p>Step 1) read the bill (or at least a well put together summary) <br>Step 2) make a judgment about it</p><p>Since everyone seems to have Step 2 down, I thought I'd help with Step 1.</p><p><a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/vb8vs/eli5_what_exactly_is_obamacare_and_what_did_it/c530lfx" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" title="http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/vb8vs/eli5_what_exactly_is_obamacare_and_what_did_it/c530lfx">http://www.reddit.com/r/exp...</a></p>brickmpjFri, 29 Jun 2012 14:52:36 -0000http://torpey.tumblr.com/post/114930626#comment-10283010<p>i have an undying respect for pirates, living their lives with reckless abandon in the purest ways possible. But, in a fight, I would have to say a ninja would win. They have the discipline and zen-like focus that comes from life-long training in a mysterious forest dojo.</p>brickmpjFri, 29 May 2009 22:12:46 -0000http://torpey.tumblr.com/post/94314201#comment-8027791<p>great song! animal collective rocks my world.<br></p>brickmpjFri, 10 Apr 2009 00:07:59 -0000http://torpey.tumblr.com/post/92671884#comment-7846203<p>good luck my friend. kill it.</p>brickmpjSat, 04 Apr 2009 21:56:11 -0000