I’ve found out, this morning, that there’s an upcoming film version of The Magician’s Nephew: the first book — chronologically — of C. S. Lewis’ Narnia books.
Which was possibly my favourite of the books.
The fact Greta Gerwig is directing the thing is no problem: she’s an authentic Oscar winner with a ton of talent.
I think what’s going to cause a problem is one of her casting decisions.
She’s cast Meryl Streep as the voice of Aslan, one of the book’s central characters.
In case you didn’t know?
Lewis was a devout Christian: and made it perfectly clear Aslan represented Jesus Christ.
Which is why, in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, the character is sacrificed on the Stone Table: the scene is supposed to parallel the Crucifixion.
So … ?
I’m twitchy about the casting choice: and I’m not especially religious.
So I’m aware that others, more devout than me, will have problems.
One such objector was speaking on Radio Four’s Sunday show, this morning.
There’s something else, as well.
Apparently, Aslan is to be presented as a lion, as a male of the species.
I know Meryl Streep’s good: her string of awards tell us that!
But …
I don’t know if those gongs will help her play a male lion!
9th October, 2026: The Nightmare Before Christmas.
It’s officially official: it’s rained this morning.
And it’s going to rain, again, later today.
We need it … but as I’m planning a trip to the high street, later?
I’d better wear a hat … !
~≈🧢≈~
The USA allows the death sentence: both federally, and at state level.
It’s also got a fine tradition of botched death sentences: as Death Row inmate, ChristaPike, will no doubt tell you.
Personally?
I don’t like the idea of capital punishment.
I feel it’s too easy to botch the execution, it’s even easier to convict the wrong person — English history shows us that! — and sentence them to death, and frankly, from the little I know of the figures?
It’s cheaper to give someone a life sentence, than execute them.
Again, from the little I know, Death Row inmates have little to no funds of their own.
So their repeated appeals are publicly funded, and cost the tax payer much more than a hanging.
Should the US keep executing prisoners?
I, personally, don’t think they should: I wouldn’t want my tax dollars being wasted on the process.
I also think the country could make the death sentence morally worse.
By making executions public.
Nidal Hasan, who shot dead 13 unarmed US soldiers at Fort Hood in 2009, is due to be executed by firing squad.
And?
Pete Hegseth, the US Defence Secretary, has announced the execution will be live-streamed.
Would, effectively, be public.
How on Earth do you justify that?
Well, Hegseth says “People need to understand that there’s serious consequences for these types of things”.
Given capital punishment in the US really hasn’t stopped people committing murder, I don’t see how Mr Hegseth can justify that!
And, given public executions are possibly the most immoral things going … ?
Hegseth could only make this execution more immoral, more objectionable, by selling t-shirts at the event.
These include notes with either King Charles 3rd, or his late mother, and with Winston Churchill, Jane Austen, J. M. W. Turner and Alan Turing: depending on the denomination.
They’re … handy.
Especially if you’ve got a lot of them.
But … ?
The historical figures are due to be replaced with assorted fluffy animals.
I get why.
Replacing people with animals is being done because the King’s supported many Green campaigns, over the years.
This shows his interest in the subject: and, more importantly, allows the printers of the notes to update the security features.
Which is the important bit.
But … ?
On a personal front, I’m mildly disappointed.
I’m something of a fan of the late Alan Turing: seeing him replaced by a hedgehog is …
