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Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Seminary schoolmate reflects on Pope Leo's humble beginnings at St. Augustine Seminary High School
Few people have known Pope Leo for as long as those who attended St. Augustine Seminary High School with him. Seminary schoolmate Father Thomas Becket Franks saw the signs that Robert Prevost was special more than five decades ago. Walking in to the St. Procopious Abbey in Lisle, Illinois, Father Thomas 'Becket' Franks is – in some ways – walking down memory lane. Sifting through his yearbooks from St. Augustine Seminary High School in Holland, Michigan, he has found photos of his most famous schoolmate: Robert Prevost, the man who would become Pope Leo XIV. 'Probably the most humble person I've ever met and yet at the same time, the most helpful person,' he said. Father Becket, as he's known in the abbey, was a sophomore when Prevost arrived in the St. Augustine dorms as a freshman in the fall of 1969. Special Coverage: Pope Leo 'We were away from family, away from neighborhood friends,' he said. 'Bob, as I still refer to him, was quiet but involved in everything.' Prevost was a member of the student government, debate team, tennis team and patriotism club – a group that discussed U.S. politics, government and the nation's role in current events. 'When you spoke with him or talked to him, he listened intently. He would look right at you, and listen intently,' Father Becket said. 'What he was doing was formulating a response, or how to respond to you. It was never flippant, nothing really quick. He was never 'off the cuff.' Even in discussions you knew what he was saying he had been thinking about for a while.' Prevost was a member of the Reader's Theatre. Each year, each class at St. Augustine would write a comedic play spoofing life at the seminary. Pope Leo's singing sparks global social media campaign to unite believers 'He liked to portray Father Jim Sheridan. Now, at the time and as a high school kid, Bob had a lot of hair, a lot of hair. I think even curly, or wavy I should say. But Father Jim Sheridan was bald. So, as part of that portrayal of Jim Sheridan, Bob would put a hat on and made his mutton chops on his face, because Father Jim Sheridan had big sideburns,' Father Becket said. Pervost's outfit predated the Blues Brothers, but he was clearly 'on a mission from God.' Father Becket said one of Prevost's favorite activities was singing and the school chorus. 'He's a great singer,' he said. 'You can hear it now when he chants at mass.' More: Augustinian order's principles reflected in Pope Leo's life At the villa at St. Benedict Senior Living Community, Father Becket serves as chaplain. He celebrated mass in the century-old Sacred Heart Chapel, where he now quotes his own classmate. 'Everyday I've been adding some words from Pope Leo … so basically every day is a little teaching from someone I know and went to high school with,' he said. He has known Pope Leo for 56 years. The two still correspond. They'll always be connected by their shared experience at the seminary and in the pages of these yearbooks, which he signed with the same clarity and warmth that defines his priesthood: 'Tom, best of luck always, Bob Prevost.' 'I look back now 50-some years on and I see the beginnings of holiness and great maturity. A great thinker and a great gift to the world,' Father Becket said. 'I think he learned the way of holiness. I think we're going to encounter an extremely holy person, and every time I look at him now, I'm thinking I can see the beginnings of a saint way back in high school.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Independent
7 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Trump posts meme saying he's ‘on a mission from God' featuring alt-right symbol Pepe the Frog
Co-opting a famous phrase from the 1980 John Belushi-Dan Aykroyd classic The Blues Brothers, Donald Trump posted a cryptic meme on Wednesday night declaring that he is 'on a mission from God' which also features an alt-right symbol in the background. Showing the president walking down a dark city street, the image includes the caption 'nothing can stop what is coming.' While the meme itself could be interpreted as the president's response to the U.S. Court of International Trade striking down the majority of his 'Liberation Day' tariffs, it was the image's inclusion of Pepe the Frog – and the fact that it originated from a 'groyper' account – that has drawn the most attention. Additionally, this latest meme from the president may have boosted a meme coin associated with the far-right movement. With members of his administration likening the court ruling that Trump 'exceeded his authority' on tariffs to a 'judicial coup,' the president seemingly fired back at the three-judge panel with memes on his Truth Social account. One image the president posted featured a billboard emblazoned with the slogan, 'Trump was right about everything.' And then there was the Blues Brothers -themed post, which piggybacks on an overarching MAGA theme that God has anointed the president to save the country, a belief among Christian conservatives that ramped up after last July's assassination attempt and has only increased since Trump's election. In fact, the president himself has repeatedly suggested he was 'saved' by Christ because he is the chosen one. At the same time, the 'mission from God' meme parrots the long-running belief among QAnon adherents that Trump has been given a calling to secretly root out a cabal of cannibalistic pedophiles from within the government and liberal ruling class, and that soon the 'storm will be coming' that will see the mass arrests of prominent Democrats and celebrities. Trump, who has regularly posted memes and video clips that were created by QAnon conspiracists and far-right extremists, appears to have done the same thing with this particular post. The far-right corner of the meme tags the Truth Social account @FruitSnacks, who appears to be a 'groyper,' otherwise known as a supporter of notorious white supremacist Nick Fuentes. The person, who also has an account on X with the same FruitSnacks handle, has regularly reshared posts from Fuentes and a news account associated with the virulent antisemite. Of course, Trump infamously dined with Fuentes and Hitler-boosting rapper Kanye West at Mar-a-Lago in 2022. At the same time, in recent months, it appears that FruitSnacks has grown increasingly jaded with the president following Trump's return to the White House, echoing Fuentes and other far-right MAGA supporters who have sounded off over the administration's perceived lack of action on their pet conspiracy theories. 'There will be no arrests or tribunals. It would have happened by now. Trump is in office, so... what is he waiting for?' FruitSnacks wrote on Truth Social earlier this month, adding in another post about the FBI files on deceased sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein: 'Soooo... how about that Epstein client list?' Meanwhile, the inclusion of Pepe the Frog, a cartoon figure that has been appropriated by 'groypers' and the alt-right in recent years, sparked excitement in the fever swamps of the internet – and also may have contributed to a slight spike in the crypto market. $PEPE, a meme coin named for the alt-right symbol, surged 8.5 percent overnight following the president's Truth Social post. While it dropped 5 percent after the spike, the frog-themed token still showed an increase of nearly six percent over a 24 hour period and now has a market cap over $6 billion. Trump posting a Pepe meme and potentially sparking a crypto rush created quite a bit of chatter on X among the far-right crowd, many of whom have the frog as their avatars. 'Vision of PEPE OF THE UNITED STATES X is here to restore memerican greatness,' one account, which goes by the handle PEPE OF THE UNITED STATES, reacted. 'Trump vibes. Pepe power. Full degen energy.' Earlier this month, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington reported that as many as fifty of the invitees to Trump's controversial meme coin gala – which featured 220 guests who had spent the most on the president's $TRUMP cryptocurrency – were also holders of the Pepe the Frog coin and other assets linked to far-right extremism. 'The most wallets on the list, 45 in all, held assets named for Pepe the Frog as of May 12—the day winners were finalized—but holdings may have changed since they were analyzed,' CREW noted. 'Nine of the wallets, including some that hold Pepe-themed assets, held assets whose names are outright racist or anti-semitic,' the report added. 'For example, one token is called 'F*** THE JEWS,' while another is simply the n-word. Four others are variations on the word 'swastika,' such as 'Swasticoin' and 'Swastika Coin.''
Geek Vibes Nation
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Geek Vibes Nation
Top 3 Famous Cars Used In Films
Many popular films have used luxury cars to catch viewers' attention. A few examples of famous luxury cars featured in major films include the Aston Martin DB5 in James Bond's 1974 movie 'The Man With the Golden Gun' and the 1964 Dodge Monaco used in the 'Blues Brothers'. American movie producers often hire luxury cars to shoot great scenes that inspire culture and lifestyle to enhance consumer interest. If you are wondering about more top cars that spark incredible narratives in famous films, make sure you read on to discover more details. Top 3 Famous Cars Used in Films That You Should Know Vintage cars and luxury car brands, such as Lamborghini, Rolls Royce, and Ferrari, are commonly used in movies to showcase wealth and sophistication. General Motors concept cars were largely displayed in the science fiction movie 'Demolition Man' starring Sylvester Stallone. Here are the top three famous cars used in films that you should know. 1. 1977 Pontiac Trans Am, Smokey and the Bandit The 1977 Pontiac Trans Am starred in the famous movie 'Smokey and the Bandit' alongside Burt Reynolds and Sally Field. This film made a substantial impact on the American film industry thanks to the great work of director Hal Needham. Prior to the release of this movie, the Pontiac Trans Am more or less stayed the same for almost half a decade. The most famous Pontiacs of all time used in films turned heads anytime they slid around corners. Following the Smokey and Bandit movie premier, Pontiac Trans Am sales reached about 30,000 sales between 1977 and 1978. The combination of the T-top roof and improved handling played an essential role in making this film car trend at the time. 2. 1973 Corvette Stingray – Corvette Summer (1978) The 1973 Corvette Stingray featured in an adventure comedy, where a high school student played by Mark Hamill went on an epic trip around Las Vegas to recover his stolen customised Corvette. He went on to find love and explore new places along the way. Whether you are shooting a movie, doing a photoshoot, or attending an important business meeting, you can rent your dream Corvette Stingray from trusted luxury car rental companies such as Milani Exotic Car Rental in Atlanta to make a lasting impression. Leading Atlanta car rental companies offer a diverse range of premium rides, including luxury SUVs and full-size sedans. Renting a luxury car for movies doesn't have to hurt your wallet, as you can find several models that suit your budget and travel style. 3. Aston Martin DB5 – Goldfinger (1964) Another popular car used in movies is the Aston Martin DB5. The film Goldfinger released in 1964 was named after gold smuggler Auric Goldfinger, who tried everything he could to boost the value of his bullion by detonating a nuclear device near Fort Knox. The film features Sean Connery, with Desmond Llewyelyn presenting the DB5 to Bond. Desmond Llewelyn, also known as Q, brags about how the car was equipped with special features such as machine guns, a GPS screen, smoke screen, and tire slashers. The leading actors in popular films often become global superstars. Science fiction, romance, and comedy lovers will understand that premium vehicles make a substantial impact on many movies. Exotic cars for movies come with superior features and performance metrics that make any film feel extra incredible. Film directors looking to revolutionize their movie production with world class vehicles can order them from Milani Exotic Car Rental.
Boston Globe
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
From ‘SNL' to the big screen: A list of 11 sketches turned into movies, ranked from best to worst
The undisputed godfather of 'SNL' films wasn't based on a sketch at all, but it did spring from the show. The Blues Brothers, Jake ( Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Advertisement 2. Coneheads (1993) Our favorite 'SNL' extraterrestrial family was a natural fit for feature film treatment. Beldar, Prymaat, and Connie Conehead (Dan Aykroyd, Advertisement Dana Carvey and Mike Myers in the 1992 film "Wayne's World." (Paramount Pictures) Paramount Pictures 3. Wayne's World (1992) The feature film version of this 'SNL' sketch was an instant classic — and with good reason. True to its TV origins, the 4. Wayne's World 2 (1993) The follow-up to the hit film original goes bigger and beyond the original premise of Wayne (Myers) and Garth's (Carvey) public access show. They still break the fourth wall and the wordplay jokes and sight gags are nonstop, but now Advertisement 5. Blues Brothers 2000 (2000) The Blues Brothers sequel starts off by acknowledging Jake's death in prison (in real life, Belushi died in 1982). Soon after, Elwood (Aykroyd) embarks on a whole new adventure of putting the band back together. To fill the void left by Jake, we 380395 27: Billy Dee Williams as Lester in Paramount Pictures "The Ladies Man." (Photo by Marni Grossman/Online USA) Marni Grossman/Online USA 6. The Ladies Man (2000) This funny, raunchy big screen Leon Phelps tale Advertisement 7. A Night at the Roxbury (1998) The head-bobbing Butabi brothers Doug (Chris Kattan) 8. MacGruber (2010) The MacGruber (Will Forte) character began as a spoof of MacGyver on the small screen, but gets reimagined as an R-rated 'Naked Gun'/'Hot Shots' inspired-comedy for the big screen. It's another extra raunchy 'SNL' comedy romp, this one packed with sexual innuendos and poorly aged sex jokes. Advertisement MOLLY SHANNON stars as Mary Katherine Gallagher, the quintessential Irish-American Catholic schoolgirl, in Superstar, a film directed by Bruce McCulloch. (Chris Helcermanas-Benge/Paramount Pictures) Chris Helcermanas-Benge/Paramount Pictures 9. Superstar (1999) Al Franken and Laura San Giacomo in the 1995 film "Stuart Saves His Family." (Paramount Pictures) Paramount Pictures 10. Stuart Saves His Family (1995) With veteran writer and Julia Sweeney and David Foley in the 1994 film "It's Pat." (Touchstone Pictures) Touchstone Pictures 11. It's Pat (1994) During the '90s, the Advertisement Ronke Idowu Reeves is the Globe's SEO Editor, and a contributor to the books "Oprah: A Celebration at 70" and "PEOPLE Books: Special Edition Barbie."
Edinburgh Reporter
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Northern host Hungarians in vets rugby tournament
Edinburgh Northern rugby club have finalised preparations for an inaugural 10-a-side international tournament at Inverleith Park on Saturday, 31 May. The furthest travelled will be the Blues Brothers from Hungary and although listed are Cairo Old Crocks they are, in fact, described as a 'melange' of Edinburghclubs. Lining up alongside the hosts will be Puffin Gannets (North Berwick), Mackie Mammoths and Dalkeith Auldtras. Teams will be piped on to the field by Rory and Thomas Logg, sons of the late Northern playing stalwart and in the evening the scene will switch to Edinburgh Accies nearby clubhouse for a dinner. Leith Rugby Club will visit Germany just prior to the start of the new season having been invited to participate in the 125th anniversary of the Victoria Linden club in Hanover. The visit takes place from Friday 22nd – to Sunday 24th August with the East Regional Leagues due to get underway a week later. Like this: Like Related
