Sunday, September 21, 2025

POTD: Michelangelo's Pietà

From 2024 12 22 Rome

Today's photo-of-the-day is from inside St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. Just inside the Jubilee Year's Holy Door stands Michelangelo's Pietà, which along with Michelangelo's David, get my vote for most beautiful statues ever made. David for its bravado. The Pietà for its pathos.


"Marble folds like cloth,
a mother cradles her son,
sorrow carved in stone."

— h/t ChatGPT

Saturday, September 20, 2025

POTD: St. Peter's Basilica

From 2024 12 22 Rome

Today's photo-of-the-day is from inside St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City on Christmas Day. According to Wikipedia, "It was initially planned in the 15th century by Pope Nicholas V and then Pope Julius II to replace the ageing Old St. Peter's Basilica, which was built in the fourth century by Roman emperor Constantine the Great. Construction of the present basilica began on 18 April 1506 and was completed on 18 November 1626."


"Family gathered
beneath gold decorated
ceiling far above."

— h/t ChatGPT

Friday, September 19, 2025

POTD: The Holy Door

From 2024 12 22 Rome
Pilgrims throng the stairs to the Holy Door

Today's photo-of-the-day is at the open Holy Door at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City on Christmas Day. According to Wikipedia, "A Holy Door is traditionally an entrance portal located within the Papal major basilicas in Rome. The doors are normally sealed by mortar and cement from the inside so that they cannot be opened. They are ceremonially opened during Jubilee years designated by the Pope, for throngs of pilgrims to enter the basilica through those doors to gain the plenary indulgences attached with the Jubilee year celebrations."

We witnessed Pope Francis open St. Peter's Holy Door on Christmas Eve, which marked the beginning of the Jubilee Year 2025. We returned on Christmas Day to walk through it ourselves, along with thousands of pilgrims.

Bonus photos are after the jump.

Wednesday, September 17, 2025

Nonnas (2025)

Rotten Tomatoes

Rotten Tomatoes

Nonnas (2025): Vince Vaughn plays a man who wants to honor his mother by opening a restaurant with four grandmas serving their family recipes. Nothing subtle here, just a big helping of good-hearted nostalgia. B-

Netflix

Monday, September 15, 2025

Eric (TV 2025)

Rotten Tomatoes

Rotten Tomatoes

Eric (TV 2025): Benedict Cumberbatch plays Vincent, the creative genius behind a long-running TV puppet show in the 1980s in NYC. His son is kidnapped and his personal and professional lives start falling apart. Too many side issues are packed into six episodes, including urban decay, crime, AIDS, homophobia, alcoholism, and mental illness. B-

Netflix