Happy Valentine's Day: A Good Day to Die?

This just in: South Africa's so-called Blade Runner Oscar Pistorious, 26, (paralympian) has reportedly been arrested on the charge of murder after he allegedly shot and killed his girlfriend at his home. The victim was model Reeva Steenkamp (pictured), said to be 29 or 30 years old. This occurred in South Africa, where it was Valentine's Day already.

Reeva Steenkamp = Reeva ("to bind," or, if taken from French, "shore"), Steen (German, "stone") Kamp (German, "field").

She was born in South Africa, and was from a family of horse trainers; her father, Barry, is related to famous South African trainers the Amos brothers.

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For more on the film Blade Runner, see also,

First Blade Runner Dies

Blade Runner: 30 Years of Synchromysticism - Part 1 (Tyrell 2019 + Weyland 2023)

Blade Runner: 30 Years of Synchromysticism - Part 2 (Aztec-Mayan Symbolism)

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The following was written and posted on February 13, 2013, 11:11 PM, EST. 

Interesting the imagery that was utilized for this...

Good or bad?

Bruce Willis takes on the role of John McClane for the fifth time in the Die Hard series. In A Good Day to Die Hard, the movie moves the story, involving his CIA operative son, to Moscow, Russia (although it was filmed in Budapest, Hungary). It also introduces his daughter. 

Is A Good Day to Die Hard the official kickoff of this coming summer's big tent violent motion pictures?

Bruce Willis brings us a bloody Valentine's Day gift on February 14, 2013.

Is that feature the opening of another summer of red dawns and dark movies?

What are some of the selections and their opening USA dates?

Iron Man 3 (May 3, 2013)

Star Trek into Darkness (May 17, 2013)

Man of Steel, producer Christopher Nolan's dark film (June 14, 2013)

The Lone Ranger (July 3, 2013)

Thor: The Dark World (November 8, 2013)

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Thursday, February 14, 2013, is Saint Valentine’s Day.

This date is celebrated worldwide to mark the deeds of bishop Valentine in Terni City in Italy during the second half of the third century, who officiated the marriage of young couples in secret to help them avoid joining the Roman legions.

When the Roman Emperor Claudius II, known as Claudius Gothicus, was made aware of these hidden marriage celebrations, he commanded the decapitation of Bishop Valentine, allegedly, on 14 February 270 BC.

Specifically, helping Christians at the time was considered a crime. Nevertheless, when first imprisoned, Claudius took a liking to his prisoner -- until Valentinus tried to convert the Emperor -- whereupon the priest was condemned to death. Valentinus was beaten with clubs and stoned; when that did not kill him, he was beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate.

In 498 BC, Pope Gelasius canonized him due to his dedication to the faith and love.

Many of the current legends that characterize Saint Valentine were invented in the fourteenth century in England, notably by Geoffrey Chaucer and his circle, when the feast day of February 14 first became associated with romantic love. Some historians feel the holiday may have been created as an attempt to supersede the pagan holiday of Lupercalia.

But there is little that is romantic about some histories linked to this day, depending upon your own personal experiences, of course. For example, my maternal grandmother, Nellie Gray (pictured), was the victim of a murder-suicide on Valentine's Day, 1940. Suicide clusters, the Valentine's Day Massacre, the Valentine Killer, and other forms of violence tied to this date are part of our history, of course. It will also be recalled that on this date in 2008, the Northern Illinois University campus mass shooting occurred.

Enjoy your Valentine's Day. And be safe.

Then we have to get through that very dangerous week in April.

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I have a section of The Copycat Effect about Valentine's Day, parts of which are quoted here, in Valentine's Dangers.