After Tim Kaine gave part of his VP acceptance speech in Spanish, Ann Coulter went furiously to work on her new book “How Tim Kaine Conspired with Hondurans to Ruin America! A Liberal Plot.” Seeing every big name Democrat in the known universe give speeches at the DNC this week seems a little lop-sided with…
Episode 29–Are the Outsiders Really Elites?
We break-down the strange myth that Donald Trump is an outsider or that 2016 is the Year of The Outsider with mega-wealthy candidates like Carly Fiorina, Ben Carson, and Trump–who collects politicians Vito Corleone-style “like so many pennies in my pocket.” We recap the RNC, the running mate selections for both campaigns, wonder why the…
Mike Pence? Really?…Maybe Trump Should’ve Picked Ivanka
“Who’s Trump going to pick?” was the breathless speculation for months. “Will it be a former primary foe like Rubio or Kasich?” “No, no, it’ll be a woman like Joni Ernst, he’s gotta pick a woman.” “Nope, it’ll be someone currently in congress to help get bills passed like Bob Corker or even”–hilariously–“Jeff Sessions.” “Nah,…
Episode 28–Abortion….This Again?
Closing out our Guns, Immigration, and Abortion trilogy we talk about that most uncomfortable of hot buttons in a way that is at least unusual. We relate personal stories and sometimes strangely funny experiences with looking at exactly what it would look like to re-criminalize abortion, why no other industrialized country even talks about doing…
“The Legend of Tarzan” Knows the Words but Not the Rhythm
A movie that is naggingly unsatisfying. It has a lot of good elements that never quite gel into a really worthwhile whole, despite coming close… What Works: So just what is missing in this Tarzan? You’ve got Alexander Skarsgard as Tarzan, Margo Robbie as Jane, Christoph Waltz as your generic villain, Samuel L. Jackson as the lovable…
Movie Review: Independence Day Resurgence
A movie that seems built to be forgotten before you’ve stepped out of the theater. Not quite an utter betrayal of the first “Independence Day” (which was not exactly “Saving Private Ryan” itself), but a downgrade in almost every way, including—weirdly enough—the effects. What Works: Not much. The first “Independence Day” movie (made almost exactly 20 years…
Episode 27–What is an American? [The Immigration Episode]
In the second part of our trilogy we talk about immigration in a way that is fitting for the 4th of July. In a wide-ranging episode we talk Brexit, Trump (unfortunately), how immigration fears are not uniquely American, how England outside of London is really Connecticut in the 50’s, if other countries are more xenophobic…
“The Shallows” is a Much Better Blake Lively Movie
If you had told me that a Blake Lively movie would be better than the latest Pixar film, I’d have punched you straight in the nose. But you know what? You would have been right. What Works: “The Shallows” makes great use of its vibrant, ocean-blue setting. [Whereas “Finding Dory” is mostly set in a fish…
Movie Review: “Finding Dory” is Completely Forgettable
In my “Summer Movies” preview where I listed which ones I was most anticipating and least anticipating, I singled out “Finding Dory” as something I was pretty lukewarm to, and–I hate to say it–but I was right. Welllll, I was at least right that I wouldn’t like it that much, despite all the box office bajillions it’ll…
What Are the Most Fitting TV Shows to Watch On 4th of July?
These are not necessarily the most patriotic shows or even the most American ones, but the shows I like to think that represent a certain American-feeling that is appropriate for the 4th… Silicon Valley…What better than watching a bunch of intrepid explorers try—and sometimes fail—to create something great out of nothing? The spirit of innovation…
300 at 30–Episode 4–Foodie Spelled F-A-T-S-O
The flip side of “Food spelled F.O.M.O.” is “Foodie spelled F-A-T-S-O” and this episode highlights the traps people who love trying different types of food can be susceptible to, the same way a “wine connoisseur” may be on a slippery slope to becoming a wino. Listen in and beat “new” (usually recycled) flavors together…
300 at 30–Episode 3–Food Spelled F.O.M.O.
Man’s long-time survival instinct has now been warped by food peddlers tweaking it to fit the Fear Of Missing Out times we live in. Listen in to hear how literal “flavor of the month” items are designed to knock you off your diet and how to combat it…
300 at 30–Episode 2–What is Old?
A deceptively simple question–“What is Old?”–drives the second episode, which is a little longer than every other episode will be, but an existential crisis is rarely short-winded. Still, worth a listen and maybe add your own definition of what you consider old in the comments…