Five Recommendations: Silent Films

by Jim Kopetz

    

For many people, the idea of a black and white film is an automatic turn-off, forget about silent films. Well here's five silent films that will change your mind.

80's Movie of the Week: Crossroads (1986)

by Jim Kopetz

    "The blues ain't nothin' but a good man feelin' bad, thinkin' 'bout the woman he once was with." No, this isn't the Britney Spears movie.

Have Santorum's Inner Demons Ruined His Chance For Nomination?

by Jim Kopetz

    If the allegations that Santorum has been hosting satanist sex parties is true, well, that burning could be worse.

Ode to a Titan: Dr. Hunter S. Thompson

by Jim Kopetz

In memory of a true giant, a conqueror and political junkie. To the journalist, the humorist, the masochist and the rebel. To Hunter.

The Cycle of Abuse: Tensions Building, Incident, Reconciliation, Calm (repeat)

By Courtney M.

Looking over the contributions I've made to this blog so far, I can't help but notice that the great majority of my past posts have served as some sort of critique against the way women are perceived and subsequently how they are treated in society today.  It's no secret amongst my friends (and maybe even to readers now) that I am a true, blue feminist.  Just ask them.  They know I'll start popping off whenever I happen to come across or hear about a man degrading a woman in some shameful and demeaning manner.  I'll grit my teeth when some of my female friends call other women "bitches" or "sluts" because of what someone else is or isn't wearing.  And although it may seem a tad dramatic (yet the sentiment assuredly remains), I basically want to set my face on fire whenever I come across grotesquely misogynistic ads in the mainstream media that explicitly promote sexual violence and the objectification of women; such as ONE and TWO, for starters.

Oh Clyde!

by Jim Kopetz

    Clint Eastwood and his best friend Clyde, an orangutan. Yes it's a real movie and it's fucking awesome.

In Honor of Christopher Hitchens

by Jim Kopetz

    Possibly the greatest intellectual of our time. A great debater who was most certainly one of history's great wordsmiths, both eloquent and confrontational. A salute to a true contrarian.

Instant Netflix: Death Race 2000 (1975)

by Jim Kopetz

    1975 produced two great sports movies set in a fascist dystopian future. I already covered Rollerball (1975). This one's even better.

The Trial of Harry Reems

by Jim Kopetz

    "They told me, if the Republicans get elected, you're going to jail. If the Democrats get elected, you'll go free."

Five Recommendations: Whiskey

by Jim Kopetz

    
     Five Recommendations: Whiskey (Bourbon)

Women Should Suffer, Too: Yet Another One of PETA's Bizarre Campaign Ads

By Courtney M.

I really hate to give PETA any more attention than I need to. But, for whatever reason, the organization still doesn’t seem to understand that their overwhelmingly embarrassing use of “shock and awe” campaign tactics to bring attention to the needless suffering of animals completely de-legitimizes their cause and makes them the laughing stock of the western world.

The Endless Struggle of the Kurds

by Jim Kopetz

    It was Christopher Hitchens who educated me on the plight of the Kurds. He recounted with great admiration the people he met during the Gulf War in 'Hitch-22', his memoir that includes many tales of his travels to Iraq and relationships built with the Kurdish people. Without his recommendation I might never have read the two great works of Kanan Makiya, "Republic of Fear: The Politics of Modern Iraq" and "Cruelty and Silence: War, Tyranny, Uprising, and the Arab World".

Double Feature Friday: Phantom Lady (1944) & The Killers (1946)

by Jim Kopetz

    Two film noirs from Robert Siodmak, 'Phantom Lady' being his first attempt in the genre and 'The Killers', displaying his mastery of the noir aesthetic. All within two years.

Could Mitt Be It: The Strange and Terrible Tale of a Political Double

by Jim Kopetz

   If the Mitt Romney who wrote 'No Apologies: The Case for American Greatness' were running today, I would be mildly delighted to vote for him. Unfortunately it seems that Mitt Romney doesn't exist anymore, at least for the time being. The Ultra-Right-wing Conservative metamorphosis has begun taking effect, splitting the man in two: an educated, well-read chap who has learned as much from his failures as he has his accomplishments and the gaffe prone, flip-flopping stooge of a double who spouts the approved rhetoric of his conservative cronies. So who am I voting for? The Mitt or The Double?

Fighting Ignorance with... Ignorance?

By Courtney M.

Earlier this afternoon, a friend of mine had sent me a link to this particular video (above) and, needless to say, I was appalled. Brigham Young University—and the state of Utah, in general—is not exactly a hotbed for widespread acceptance and diversity, so it certainly wasn’t a surprise for me to hear BYU’s student body espouse such blatant (and deeply latent) racist beliefs upon being interviewed. Without excusing the severity of their responses (“I can think of some girls that have jungle fever”), the aversion and total repulsion I have towards this video is much more pointed at the interviewer, himself.

For Times of Drink and Pen and Solitude

by Jim Kopetz

One more blissful night alone,
the comfort of San Quentin.
One more blissful night of better known,
and thoughts that I have written.

UPDATED: East Haven Mayor Proves Himself to be Bulbous Ass...on National Television.

by Jim Kopetz

    How Joe Maturo set the bar for self-destructing on camera in this year of our lord 2012. From local news to cable satire.

Just Kids: Part II

by Jim Kopetz

    The above image is the signature of a 20-something man who's name is not in fact Bremt, but Brent. He is not mentally or physically disabled in any way. His only handicap is that he was educated through a public school system...

In light of the Super Bowl, a review of Friday Night Lights.

By Courtney M.

I’m pretty picky about how I watch TV. Given a particular show, if I miss one or more episodes (especially those in the opening seasons), I refuse to join in on later episodes until I’ve properly caught myself up. Many times, however, I purposefully hold off on a show entirely until it has finished its run so that I can partake in the true joy of marathoning them in all of their designated glory. During these non-stop marathon sessions, the viewer is pummeled with the true, genuine emotions these show creators and writers intended all along. Marathoning a TV show is reassuring for me—it satisfies some sort of addictive habit and allows television to exist in its most purest, uninterrupted form. The role of the viewer seems to transcend into the show, itself; giving you the ability to emotionally stay with the character in powerful, pivotal moments. In that suburban kitchen, you’re in Don Draper’s head and you can physically feel the gravity of the situation as he quickly unravels and admits to his secret life and endless string of affairs to his wife, Betty. Do you really want to be interrupted in the middle of something that powerful so that Gold Bond can tell you all about their newest athlete’s foot cream or baking soda? No. Neither do I.

Why 50/50 is the best film of 2011.

by Jim Kopetz

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Adam: That's what everybody's been saying: You'll feel better and don't worry and this is all fine and it's not.

Katherine: You can't change your situation. The only thing that you can change is how you choose to deal with it.

Pinkwashed: Too Little, Too Late for Susan G. Komen

By Courtney M.

Just a few days ago, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the world’s largest organization for breast cancer awareness and fundraising, made the announcement that they would no longer continue their long-standing support and partnership with Planned Parenthood. Though Planned Parenthood is certainly no stranger to controversy and remains an active player on the political stage, this particular incident has become nothing short of a PR nightmare for Susan G. Komen. People are pissed off—and rightfully so. For far too long, women (and especially the uninsured women of low-income brackets Planned Parenthood predominantly serves) and their bodies have been used as political pawns and, given the overwhelming backlash against SGK’s decision, it seems as though they’ve had enough.

Five Recommendations: Literature

by Jim Kopetz

    

    Five Recommendations will be a recurring feature that ranges from websites to books to the proper cooking methods of crack cocaine...

Who is North Korea and What Will Become of Her?

by Jim Kopetz

    With the passing of Kim Jong-il and the hand-over of power to his son, Kim Jong-un, many have questioned whether this rather dimwitted new leader will be able to grasp the reins with the strength of his predecessor. Surely some kind of military coup d'etat is in the works and the lack of media attention has left this writer distraught and enraged. But in order to foresee the possible future of North Korea, one must know the basics of its history.