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By visiting blogger John Pilchard
There are few films that I can watch repeatedly with the excitement of the first time I witnessed it. Mad Max: Fury Road, and American Psycho are on that list. Then, there are fewer films I can watch over and over again, and pick up a new bit of information upon each repeat viewing. This list is thankfully shorter, but you still might call me dim. Fight Club and The Thin Red Line are just a few, and I still find it shocking that everybody is in the later. John C. Riley is in The Thin Red Line? Somewhere in the same mental filing cabinet there is a list of movie(s) that I can enjoy watching with the excitement of the first viewing experience, and pick up something new each time I see it. The list is shorter and sweeter, and filled to the brim with perfection. The list is Alien and it’s the list for me. Well, hopefully because I created it. In the past month, I have, as a passive viewer, watched Alien maybe 4 or 5 times. It’s comfort to me, it’s nostalgia, science fiction, horror and Sigourney Weaver wrapped into one. I think for many people it was the film introduced to you by your dad. It’s the kind of movie that I can play in the background while I try to get work done. Yesterday, for the first time ever I sat down and actively watched Alien for work. I was horrified, and not in the Xenomorph sort of way. I was horrified by how much I have missed over the years. If someone came up to me 48 hours ago and asked me slightly above average difficulty questions about Alien, I would have been shot. Assuming this is one of those situations.
By John Pilchard
I’d first like to start this by acknowledging that this is an open letter to a company that I love. I still haven’t fully grasped the definition of an open letter, and I’m not entirely sure how the U.S. postal system works, but regardless here we are. Both are more or less pleasantries anyway. (Stamps cost how much?) This is a thank you to a company who, from such an early age, kindled discovery within me. It’s hard to point out singular moments that defined those moments of discovery, wonder, and curiosity throughout child hood. It’s even harder to recognize a single entity. But if you’re able, I assume you’re a creative type. Or unemployed. Or both. This is an open letter to a company who comfortably kindled the notion that maybe it was all right to become the very best. And more importantly, that it was all right if you didn’t. This is for the company who very recently told me that, if you had the means, it was ok to walk to work. Take the scenic route. See what’s out there. Air conditioning will be there at the end of your journey, most likely.
By visiting blogger John Pilchard
Oh, constant poking fallacy, how do you continue to stretch upon ever-present morning rise? How shall I aim to dispel burning stream of froth, when you refuse to obey the calling card of flaccidity? Ever present and raging north, I did not chose competition with thy horse. Cease this burning and this itching sensation; per chance I shall call upon the leeches to subdue my morning proclamation. If the stable should find it empty, the curve must lament upon my blistered hand. The itch will not then, spread throughout the maiden land. I regretfully tug and scream in the darkest of nights. I fight this scaly dragon with all my holy might. Suddenly, aghast! There is a knock upon the door. I prayeth not my mother any more. With a swing and gasp and a candle in hand! Her eyes fell upon my mightiest of man. “Why must you cry and wank off?” “Why must you barge and not knock!” The curvature fell limp, a scepter un-bolden, I let go off the beast, no distance worth holding. The sun will rise in the ever-present morning and with it comes the constant growing curvature of greatness! -John Pilchard
To hear John in the Still Human Podcast, you can listen on iTunes by clicking here
By John Pilchard
To hear John in 'Episode 15: John Makes Movies', you can listen on iTunes here I can still remember the days, usually summer days, of going to the movie theater with my mother. These primarily fond memories helped to mold me into the movie viewer I am today. Back then I was much, much younger. Back then, my mother and I enjoyed the work of M. Night Shyamalan. Together we sat and watched intricate stories with unfolding twists play out in front of us. This was the time when M. Night was on top of the world. I look back on those 3 years and realize, slightly older now, that those years are long gone. I won’t harass you with specifics, but I will. Do you remember, Lady in the Water, The Village, and most importantly to help drive this point home, The Last Air Bender? Sure, maybe the last one there doesn’t count because that wasn’t Mr. Shyamalan’s source material. It seems that anytime anyone attempts to adapt a popular anime for an American audience, they usually crash and burn, like when that fire nation attacked. I’m not 100 percent on the details though; I couldn’t even finish the movie. Those aforementioned films were stinkers. There really is no sound way to argue against that. The director who was once on top of the world began to rely too heavily on the plot twist device. He then forgot about story, or more so, he decided to over complicate the story to exacerbate that plot twist at the end. That doesn’t always work, and after a few more tries, it still doesn’t work. In The Village’s defense, that movie was pretty good for about the first half hour, however you can only watch that movie once. Click the 'Read More' button below to read the rest of the article The founder of Thought Bleater sat down with us to record a special interview episode. This is the article which accompanied that visit; it goes into more detail than we did during the episode and I suggest that every thoughtful person begin reading Shawn's analysis on a daily/weekly basis. -Jerry
By: Shawn Doyle China and Russia present challenges and opportunities to the United States, and Trump will have to devise an effective foreign policy towards them. Building off of my recent appearance on the Still Human Podcast, I wanted to try and explore the possibility that Trump has a genuine and well-intentioned policy towards these countries. Conspiracy shades everything Trump has said and done – especially in regards to Russia. Allegations like the Golden Shower seem ridiculous. Other claims are well verified – such as the Intelligence Community’s consensus opinion that Russia deliberately helped Trump win the election. But, for the purpose of this argument, let’s give Trump the benefit of the doubt. At least for a moment. Russia Russia emerged over the past several years as a major challenger to the United States and the West. One is necessarily reminded of Mitt Romney’s then-mocked comment during his 2012 presidential run that Russia was a foe. Under Putin’s leadership we have seen the Crimean Invasion, an incursion into Ukraine, cyberattacks on Estonia, an intervention into Syria, and the hacking of the 2016 election – as a few examples. There was the asylum for Snowden, the violation of the INF treaty, and the time when nuclear armed bombers encircled Guam just before the 2013 State of the Union. It has been a rocky relationship. There are, essentially, two major ways for Washington to answer... Read More By: Shawn Doyle Trump is trying to appropriate one of the most stinging charges against his rise – that he owes his Presidency to fake news – and is turning it into a weapon for himself and supporters. He spent the last week branding critics with the label of ‘fake news’ on Twitter. By doing so, Trump is undermining the rhetorical power of one of the most prominent arguments against him. If it works, fake news’ meaning in discourse will change: tarring unfavorable media coverage with illegitimacy. To read more visit www.thoughtbleater.com
By Shawn Doyle of ThoughtBleater.com
Imagine that the premier military unit of Western Order – the tip-of-the-spear for Liberal Democracy – has spent the past 15 years deliberately committing war crimes with impunity. Escaping prosecution despite command knowledge. All of this is true, according to The Intercept’s voluminous and scathing report on Seal Team 6 released earlier this week. If the 15,000 word epic exceeds your time- here is a relatively short summary... Read More By John Pilchard
In the past week I have gone through a break up, a break up again with the same girl, and a mental breakdown. I have gained fame amongst friends and began work at a job I hate. I swore that I wouldn’t do any of these things ever again but, well, here I am. The text version of Jerry's mini-audibook 'leftward bound'
Or you can listen to the audio version By Jerry Meitz |
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