Monday, February 16, 2026

From the Alps to the Stars: A Legacy of Creativity Beyond the Spotlight

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“She was Brigitta von Trapp at 12, Penny Robinson in Lost in Space at 13—and at 73, she's still creating art, just on different stages than the ones that made her famous." A 12-year-old girl with knowing eyes and perfect comic timing once stood on a Hollywood soundstage pretending to be the Austrian Alps, becoming a permanent part of cinema history. Angela Cartwright played Brigitta von Trapp, the clever and observant daughter in The Sound of Music. She was the one who could deliver a line like, "I'm Brigitta... and I think your dress is the ugliest one I ever saw," with such perfect timing that audiences laughed while instantly falling in love with her.

What most people didn't know was that by the time Angela stepped onto that set, she was already a seven-year veteran of Hollywood. Starting at age five, she played Linda Williams on The Danny Thomas Show from 1957 to 1964—a run that made her a familiar face in American living rooms long before she ever sang "Do-Re-Mi." When director Robert Wise was casting the film, he wasn't looking for amateurs; he wanted professionals who could hit their marks and deliver performances that would hold up for decades. Angela was exactly what he needed. On set, the seven children became a real family. Julie Andrews treated them with genuine warmth, and the chemistry seen on screen was no act. Even the famous rowboat scene, where the children tumble into the cold water, captured genuine surprise and delight.

When the movie premiered in 1965, it became one of the most successful films ever made. Angela could have ridden that fame for life, but instead, she immediately rocketed into space. That same year, Lost in Space debuted, and Angela became Penny Robinson. For three seasons, she navigated cosmic dangers and befriended robots, cementing her place in pop culture for a second time before she was even 16 years old. And then, she chose a different path. Angela stepped away from acting in the early 1970s while she was still a major star. She married her high school sweetheart, Steve Gullion, and discovered a new passion behind the camera: photography.

As a professional photographer and mixed-media artist, Angela found a different kind of creativity that required no scripts or directors. She held exhibitions and built a second career entirely separate from her childhood fame. She also became a writer, co-authoring Styling the Stars and other books that explored Hollywood history and the creative process with fresh eyes. Her story is a rare one in Hollywood; she achieved enormous success twice and walked away on her own terms without the bitterness or tragedy that often follows child stars. Now 73 years old, Angela is still creating and living in the present. While she still embraces her past at reunions and conventions, her life is defined by her own art. She proved that you don't have to chase the spotlight forever to find a happy ending.

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Why do some people believe that black cats are harder to adopt?

It’s a widely held belief that black cats are overlooked for adoption.

While there may be truth to that in parts of the world that still see black cats as unlucky—my Italian nephew-in-law says that is still a perception by some people in his country, for example—the truth is that there are more black cats looking for homes because there are more black cats: black colouration is dominant in the domestic feline. Actual reviews of cat-adoption statistics have debunked the idea that black cats are overlooked or rejected because of the colour of their fur.

A friend of mine in cat rescue says there is an actual challenge for black cats in attracting potential adopters, though. A lot of cat rescue groups now use online photos to promote animals available to adopt, and it can be hard to get a good photo of a black cat (lighting is everything for them), so their features may be less visible in photos, compared to lighter-haired cats. That may delay adoptions for black cats.

When someone adopts a black cat it may because they believe the cat has less of a chance of being adopted. Or they may be among the people who prefer the mysterious beauty of a black cat.

Or they may just have fallen in love with a particular cat, like we did with our Brynn.

The Mercy of Holy Sorrow

February 16, 2026
Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings for Today

Christ among the Pharisees by Jacob Jordaens

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The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” Mark 8:11–12

The Pharisees struggled with skepticism, resistance, and trickery, reflecting the tragic reality of hearts closed to grace. They should have been the first to rejoice in the coming of the Messiah but became Jesus’ staunchest critics and persecutors. Their rejection shows how pride and hardness of heart can blind even those who are most familiar with the law and the prophets. As religious leaders, their privileged role heightened their responsibility to recognize and guide others toward the Messiah, making their rejection all the more tragic.

Instead of manifesting hearts open to grace, they demanded another sign, despite the countless signs Jesus had already performed: healings, exorcisms, authoritative teachings, and the miraculous feeding of the multitudes. These works were displays of divine power and fulfilled Messianic prophecies, revealing Jesus as the promised Savior.

Jesus’ authoritative teaching resonated deeply within those with faith. His words and works illuminated their hearts and confirmed His divine identity. The Pharisees’ demand for another sign was not an act of faith but a manifestation of their obstinate resistance to the truth standing before them.

How did Jesus respond to the Pharisees? “He sighed from the depth of his spirit…” This is a holy response. His deep sigh was not driven by anger or pride but by love. To “sigh” is to express holy sorrow: “Blessed are those who mourn…” (Matthew 5:4 RSVCE). Though we must have holy sorrow in the face of every sin—both our own and those of others—the sin that should evoke the deepest sorrow is that which is committed in obstinacy. Obstinacy blinds us to our sins, leading to rationalizations or excuses that prevent us from recognizing our need for repentance. When the sin committed in obstinacy is grave, this leaves a soul in the most pitiable state.

By modeling holy sorrow, Jesus teaches us how we are to react to others who manifest a similar hardness of heart. We should not take it personally. Instead, we must feel the pain of their sin with empathy. Doing so is the most loving response we can make because our holy sorrow becomes a mirror of their souls, inviting them to recognize their spiritual need and turn to God for mercy.

In addition to feeling and expressing holy sorrow, Jesus declares that “no sign will be given to this generation.” Jesus is not being stubborn or refusing to provide the necessary revelation that the Pharisees need in order to convert and believe in Him. He is doing the opposite. The Pharisees have already been given everything they need to come to faith in Jesus. By refusing further signs, Jesus was confronting their hardened hearts and inviting them to believe based on the ministry He had already given them. True faith arises from hearts that are receptive to grace.

The fact that Jesus “left them” (Mark 8:13) is another act of mercy. By leaving them, Jesus mirrored the spiritual reality of their souls: God was absent from them due to their hardness of heart. His departure also provided an opportunity for the Pharisees to reflect on their rejection, perhaps planting seeds for future repentance. In leaving them, Jesus respected their freedom to reject Him, even as it grieved His merciful heart. Even in judgment, God’s mercy is always at work, inviting sinners to return to Him.

Reflect today on Jesus’ merciful heart. God’s mercy manifests itself in various ways, depending on our needs. Sometimes, mercy is tender and encouraging, especially when hearts are contrite and humble. At other times, mercy is sorrowful and empathetic, mourning over ours and others’ sins. Seek God’s mercy in your life and then resolve to become an instrument of that mercy to others, in the way that they need it, calling them to repentance and faith.

Most merciful Heart of Jesus, Your compassion is profound and Your empathy deep. Please pour out Your mercy on me, in the way I need it, and use me as an instrument of Your mercy for others. May all people see their sins and, with pure hearts, repent and come to faith in You. Jesus, I trust in You.

Sunday, February 15, 2026

Eight-Year-Old Abducted Girl Wheeled Through Street In Suitcase

Eight-Year-Old Abducted Girl Wheeled Through Street In Suitcase

An 8-year-old girl has been rescued in the Philippines after being kidnapped and carried down the street, stuffed in a suitcase.

The girl was returning home around noon on Thursday after buying a soda at her aunt’s grocery store on Cebu island when she was kidnapped and put into the black briefcase, police told Sunstar.com.

Her mother, Tyree Lanny Rendal, raised the alarm hours later when she came home and couldn’t find her daughter, the news outlet said.

She then checked her building’s security video and saw the hooded man taking the luggage away, the outlet said.

After an intense and frantic search, police finally found the girl at a boarding house less than a kilometer from her home in Bakilid district of Mandaue City, the Manilla Bulletin reported.

Surprisingly, she was largely unharmed, except for minor scratches on her hands, feet, and mouth from allegedly being tied up with duct tape.

Police arrested Godiflor Rama, 32, who worked for more than a year as a guard at the apartment where the girl and her family lived.

Abducted eight-year-old girl crosses street with suitcase

Abducted eight-year-old girl crosses street with suitcase
Godiflor Rama was arrested at a boarding house less than half a mile from the scene of the kidnapping.

Rama reportedly admitted to the kidnapping but tried to excuse his actions by saying he did it to teach the child’s grandparents a lesson after a quarrel.

“I hope the family can forgive me for what I did,” the suspect told local reporters, according to the Daily Mail, which identified the girl as Jin Nichole You.

“I only did it because they accused me of stealing their things, like their bags and hangers.”

Rama said he did not close the suitcase all the way so the girl could breathe inside – and denied sexually assaulting her while she was his captive.

“I admit that the girl is attractive, but that doesn’t mean I like her. I did not rape her,” he told the media.

“I fed her and let her play games,” he reportedly said, saying he planned to return the child to her family after 6 hours.

The 8-year-old kidnapping survivor has since been reunited with her mother, who thanked police for quickly rescuing her daughter from the clutches of her kidnapper.

“I couldn’t imagine this kind of thing happening to us,” the woman said of the heartbreaking ordeal.

Source link: Eight-Year-Old Abducted Girl Wheeled Through Street In Suitcase

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Anthony Hopkins

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He wasn’t part of their world a fact he was painfully aware of. At Cowbridge Grammar School in South Wales, Anthony was an outsider, a boy who struggled to fit in. His classmates found joy in games and jokes, but Anthony’s mind wandered elsewhere, consumed by a persistent sense of detachment. Even his teachers labeled him as “slow,” a judgment that hung over him like a cloud, further isolating him from the group.

An incident from his school years vividly illustrates his solitude. During a break, while others played in the yard, Anthony chose to sit alone on a cold bench, clutching a sketchpad. He drew intricate shapes, creating imaginary worlds far removed from the chaos around him. That day, a teacher noticed his work. “You have a gift,” she said, handing back his drawing of a castle perched atop a jagged cliff. For Anthony, those words were rare one of the few instances where he felt seen.

The piano became another refuge. By the age of nine, Anthony had discovered the dusty old piano in the school’s music room. While other boys gathered in cliques, Anthony would slip away, pressing the keys tentatively at first, then more confidently as he taught himself to play simple melodies. Music became his language, a way to express emotions he couldn’t put into words. It wasn’t long before his parents noticed his growing passion and scraped together what little they could to buy him a secondhand piano. In the evenings, after school, Anthony would lose himself in the music, finding solace in the melodies he created.

His isolation wasn’t just social it was emotional and intellectual. “I felt like an alien,” Hopkins would later recall. At school, he struggled with dyslexia, a condition that went undiagnosed at the time, leaving him frustrated and misunderstood. His inability to keep up academically only deepened his sense of inadequacy, and he would retreat further into his creative world, sketching and playing music for hours on end.

By the age of twelve, his artistic pursuits began to take shape as more than just hobbies. His sketches grew more detailed, his piano playing more sophisticated. Yet, the loneliness persisted. He watched from the sidelines as his peers bonded effortlessly, their lives seemingly filled with connections he couldn’t grasp. But instead of succumbing to despair, Anthony turned inward, channeling his feelings into his art. The solitary hours he spent with his sketchpad or at the piano honed his ability to observe, absorb, and express a skill set that would become invaluable in his future career as an actor.

Anthony’s mother, Muriel, played a pivotal role during this time. Sensing his struggle, she often reassured him. “You don’t have to be like everyone else,” she would say. “Being different is not a weakness; it’s a strength.” Her unwavering belief in his potential gave him the courage to embrace his individuality, even when it set him apart from everyone else.

As Hopkins transitioned into his teenage years, his world began to change subtly. The creative outlets he once used to escape loneliness became his anchors. His love for the piano and art evolved into a deeper understanding of himself. He began to see his outsider status not as a curse, but as a gift a perspective that allowed him to observe human nature in ways his peers could not.

This profound observation of life, born from years of solitude, would later infuse his acting with extraordinary depth. Hopkins’ ability to portray complex, layered characters can be traced back to these formative years when his loneliness forced him to see the world differently.

Anthony Hopkins’ early struggles with loneliness and alienation weren’t merely hurdles to overcome; they were the crucible in which his creativity and empathy were forged. In isolation, he found clarity. In being an outsider, he discovered the power of introspection. His journey from the lonely boy with a sketchpad to one of the greatest actors of all time is a poignant reminder that sometimes, our greatest struggles are also our greatest teachers.

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Grace under pressure: planting beauty in the face of loss

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One week after President John F. Kennedy’s funeral, on November 29, 1963, Jacqueline Kennedy prepared to leave the White House. To the public, she appeared as a dignified widow stepping quietly away from national life. Inside those walls, something far more intimate was taking place.

Those close to her later recalled that on her final night, Jackie walked alone through the hushed corridors. Carrying a small flashlight, she moved from room to room, brushing her hand along doorframes, sitting in familiar chairs, pausing in spaces that still seemed to hold the laughter of her children. She was saying goodbye to the only true home they had known there.

When a Secret Service agent gently asked if she was all right, she is said to have answered:

“I’m memorizing what happy felt like before I have to learn how to feel anything else.”

In that quiet confession lived the depth of her grief, her composure, and her determination to hold onto what had been.

Even in sorrow, she thought of others. After she left, White House staff found handwritten notes she had tucked away for Lady Bird Johnson. Some were practical, guiding the rhythms of the house. Others were deeply personal gestures of care:

A quiet corner in the kitchen for a restless child.

The best place to stand at sunset when the weight of history pressed too heavily.

Her final act as First Lady looked toward the future. She had insisted on expanding and redesigning the White House Rose Garden and pressed to see the project completed before her departure. She reportedly explained that she wanted future families to have something beautiful to cling to when life felt uncertain.

She planted a garden she would never watch bloom.

Jackie Kennedy’s departure reminds us that resilience is not the absence of breaking. It is the choice to move forward with intention while carrying the fracture within. It is preserving beauty, offering kindness, and thinking beyond oneself when everything personal has been shattered.

Her strength was never theatrical. It revealed itself in deliberate acts of love:

Holding onto joy before allowing sorrow to take over.

Leaving quiet guidance for the woman who would follow.

Planting roses for families she would never meet.

Grace under unimaginable pressure is not merely survival. It is letting love lead, even when loss threatens to take everything else.

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What are the top 3 ancient Roman amphitheatres worth visiting?

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In this order:

  1. Nîmes - the world’s best-preserved amphitheatre.

2. Verona - also well-preserved, with more reconstruction:

3. Rome - just because of its size.

When you are in Nîmes, you find a wealth of other Roman structures right in the city, e.g. this wonderful temple:

And a few kilometres from Nîmes, there is another amphitheatre in Arles:

And also a Greek-style theatre:

And in the middle of nowwhere (near the ancient Roman city Glanum), these roadside beauties:

And the Roman pipeline that brought the water to Nîmes:

And then there is the city Orange, with a wonderful theatre:

And a nice triumph arch:

You see, it is not just the amphitheatre why Nîmes deserves the first rank.