All seven or nine regular readers may realize I like folklore, probably more due to two fiction podcasts (one more fairy tales, one more spooky tales) Jabberwocky Audio Theater makes versus posts here. Basically, you combine the fact that my siblings and I quickly went beyond Greek, Egyptian, and Norse mythology with the fact that we got to read O.G. (Original Grimm) fairy tales and the like, there’s always going to be a space for…
I knew Milwaukee’s Mitchell Airport had the added appeal of a Usinger’s store (which I no longer see listed, so maybe it doesn’t?), but I did not know it had a wonderful used book store, Renaissance Books, which you can learn about in this short piece: As with my post last week about retail stores trying to become more of an “experience,” this feels like it perfectly fits the bill. Here’s hoping they continue to…
Along with “Alice’s Restaurant” and WKRP in Cincinnati’s “Turkeys Away,” I feel this should be in seasonal rotation: Stay safe out there, people!
On May 16th, 1990, Jim Henson a writer, director, puppeteer, and all-around friend of imagination, died suddenly. There was a public memorial less than a week later and another one in July. Then, 35 years ago this night, November 21, 1990, the Muppets did their own remembrance on CBS. I had forgotten about it, but thanks to writer and de facto pop culture historian Mark Evanier, I was reminded of it earlier this year and…
If you’re in a workplace like mine, you probably get a lot of seasonal online safety tips… but what if you aren’t? So in the spirit of remembering some handy tips as all the holiday deals start dominating our inboxes and site next week, check out some of CISA’s guides for shopping safely: Note I saw both of these pages were labeled “ARCHIVED CONTENT” which CISA cautions may mean “outdated information,” but a) it’s from…
In a more philosophical mood today, which is not unsurprising on Veterans Day (probably known better as Armistice Day and Remembrance Day for some readers). For most of the organizations I’ve worked for over the years, I have worked with a lot of veterans. In our current times where the United States is feeling far less united, I take heart that all the veterans I know came from very different walks of life. And now?…
This year’s sci-fi offerings on screen have included some truly dickish tech bros from Nicholas Hoult’s self-assured Lex Luthor in the latest film version of Superman to Samuel Blenkin’s infuriating Boy Kavalier in Alien: Earth. Even if you haven’t seen interviews with tech titans professing their love of science fiction and related geekery, this video may prove to be more validation than surprises.
Evidently, events in this timeline have caused many to revisit Babylon 5, the 90s TV space opera aided by the immortal Video Toaster. And you know what? That’s a damn good reason and if you need a reminder, there’s YourFutureSelf’s video… BUT WAIT! Before you watch, if you haven’t seen Babylon 5, it has some serious spoilers that might detract from the enjoyment of the series unfolding. For you, there are two viewing guides to…
Well, assuming you want a historical perspective… Now that it’s spooky season, expect to see a bunch of posts on spooky topics and since seeing The Witch of Edmonton and The Crucible almost back to back at an early age, I though why not start with witches? Historian Mikki Brock goes over dozens of questions about all aspects of witches and witchcraft, so you’re likely to learn something new (no spells though, I think that’s…
I’ve been trying to figure out why this timeline is timelining the way it is. I mean, I’m not the only one who isn’t a fan, right? But anyway, I’ve been seeking out material that goes into how things are work, how certain societal structures are the way they are, and what forces have been and are shaping them. You know, psychohistory kinda stuff. In my travels, I came across the videos of geopolitical consultant…