WM Briggs, Statistician to the Stars, presents the second draft of what a Catholic Declaration on Climate ought to look like. Short, sweet, and to point: The Magisterium of the Catholic Church has no, and should not have, an official position on the earth’s optimal atmospheric mean temperature, nor on the best rate of change of … Continue reading Realist Catholic Climate Declaration
It Came From Rifftrax: ‘How to Keep a Job’
Since I've been preoccupied with job-hunting and related issues lately, I thought this week we'd take a look at Coronet's (yep, them again) film on How to Keep a Job. Meet Ed, an 'ambitious' young man who is laid off from his current job and sets about applying for another one. At his interview, he proceeds … Continue reading It Came From Rifftrax: ‘How to Keep a Job’
Talking Dying Franchises at ‘The Federalist’
First article in a while is up on The Federalist, talking about why dying franchises matter: The imaginative power of Star Wars’s IP has been systematically stripped away into a confused and contradictory mess loaded down with contemporary politics. The simple, yet rich story of the originals (and even of the prequels, for all their faults) … Continue reading Talking Dying Franchises at ‘The Federalist’
Thought of the Day: 10 – 2
I often hear people saying, in response to talk of how the world has deteriorated, that those who complain are nostalgic for a mythic 'Golden Age.' This is usually followed by comments on how [insert period here] was nothing of the kind. This, it seems to me, has it backwards. That a given time was … Continue reading Thought of the Day: 10 – 2
Whistling for Dogs at the Everyman
This week at The Everyman, I discuss the 'Dog Whistle' trope: For instance, if a candidate talks about ‘States’ Rights,’ that is a signal to white supremacists that he’s secretly in favor of bringing back segregation, because back in the day segregation was partially justified on the basis of ‘States’ Rights.’ Therefore, any mention of … Continue reading Whistling for Dogs at the Everyman
It Came From Rifftrax: ‘Welcome Back, Norman’
For this week, we have the introduction to one of Rifftrax's most, ah, 'beloved' figures: the one and only Norman Krasner. The best way I can describe the Norman films (of which four have emerged so far) is "Imagine an American take on 'Mr. Bean,' as written by Jean-Paul Sartre." They're about the misadventures of … Continue reading It Came From Rifftrax: ‘Welcome Back, Norman’
CM Post on Breaking the Rules
My latest Catholic Match post is up, wherein I advise people to break the rules in dating: You are a unique soul. The person on the other end of the screen is likewise unique. You are both looking for someone who might be the One. There’s no formula for that; no system, no instructions, no … Continue reading CM Post on Breaking the Rules
It Came from Rifftrax: “Jack the Giant Killer” LIVE
I thought we’d do something a little more ambitious this week; our first feature length Rifftrax. While the shorts are fun and tasty, it’s the feature films that are Rifftrax’s bread and butter, as with Mst3k before it. Among other releases, they periodically do live shows with the guys … Continue reading It Came from Rifftrax: “Jack the Giant Killer” LIVE
It Came From Rifftrax: ‘The Myths of Shoplifting’
This week's offering takes us back to the affluent, synthesized world of the 1980s to learn the truth behind common misconceptions of shoplifting. Like most of these shorts, it's actually makes a pretty good point, though while being melodramatic and heavy-handed, which makes for a good combination for the Rifftrax crew. The short depicts a … Continue reading It Came From Rifftrax: ‘The Myths of Shoplifting’
It Came From Rifftrax: ‘Flying Stewardess’
This is one of those shorts that's as fascinating as a window into the past as it is amusing. In this case, a look at air travel in the 1940s. I do not recommend watching this short just before taking a trip, as thinking of the roomy seating, tasty-looking four-course meals, and sleeper berths of … Continue reading It Came From Rifftrax: ‘Flying Stewardess’
Serpent's Den 