Confessions of a Conservative Atheist
The world’s only one man media empire
How did an illiterate peasant that never sat on a horse in her entire life, much less have military training of any kind, march to war at seventeen years old, change the entire fate of France, and then defy the learned authorities of the Church for six months before being executed at nineteen? In many… Continue reading The impossibility of Joan of Arc, the one story that could transform even Mark Twain into a believer
In 1994, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein almost ruined Kenneth Branagh’s career while this year’s equivalent of a remake from Guillermo Del Toro received almost universal praise despite making almost the same movie substantially worse. In 1994, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein almost ruined Kenneth Branagh’s career. Though opinions of the film have generally improved in the more than… Continue reading Frankenstein and a tale of two Hollywoods
While Ms. Sweeney might be an unlikely avatar for our increasingly illiberal and insane times, an avatar of the left’s hate and endless outrage, she certainly is. Indeed, the absurdity of the whole situation only helps illustrate the point. Last week, Sydney Sweeney made news once again when detractors objected to her choice of clothing… Continue reading Reminder: Progressives hate Sydney Sweeney simply because she appeared in a clothing ad and all they have is hate for any disagreement, real or even perceived
While the Phish guitarist, singer, and songwriter is far from a household name, he certainly should be. Over the course of three shows in barely six months with three completely different configurations, he belted out fifty eight songs or more than six full albums of material. I’ve been fortunate enough to see Trey Anastasio three… Continue reading Trey Anastasio is the greatest musician of his generation and it’s not even close
Benjamin Franklin famously or infamously said that the country was a Republic, if you can keep it. To liken great things to small, this is a blog if I can keep it up, but isn’t that true of everything in life? When I started this blog in November 2020, it wasn’t clear to me how… Continue reading Celebrating 1,000 posts with a few near incoherent thoughts on the past, present, and future
Chickens? Pigs? Cows? They get slaughtered all year for any old meal, but not me. I’m special and I serve a higher purpose, so forget the various controversies surrounding the holiday over the centuries and belly up to the table. I am a Thanksgiving turkey. You might find me roasted, smoked, or fried at the… Continue reading I am a Thanksgiving turkey and I live to die for your holiday meal
Somehow, a silent film managed to include a false framing device that serves to mislead the viewer and set up a twist ending straight out of a modern movie, a love triangle, a flashback within a flashback, multiple murders, a murder investigation with a falsely accused suspect, an abduction, and more. Over a century after… Continue reading The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and the audacity of the earliest filmmakers
I’m not sure which is the bigger achievement. David Lynch’s daring to tell an unfiltered story of the sexual abuse and suffering of a teenager in 1992, or to use it as a gateway to the modern media world, where world-building and origin stories rule. These days, cinematic universes are all the rage, but back… Continue reading Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me and the unsettling birth of the cinematic universe
Living in the Emirates is easy, if you follow the rules, you can enjoy all the benefits a thriving country has to offer. These rules are relatively simple, but justice is swift and the consequences are severe. Can an American cut it? As an American, I have always been proud of my country’s historic role… Continue reading My recent trip to Dubai and a few thoughts on fundamental rights
If only we could sleep as easily as we can die. I could end my life in an instant, but for reasons that defy explanation, simply putting the mind to rest for a few hours can prove impossible. If only we could sleep as easily as we can die. I could, if I chose, end… Continue reading Sleep, death, and the limits of Mark Twain and William Shakespeare
Confessions of a Conservative Atheist 