Featured Editorials

The Political Atlas (A New Spectrum Model)

This is my detailed explanation of a possible multi-axis model of the political spectrum, combined with an extensive glossary of common political science terms. The cover image of each photo is a mock apolitical flag design of my own creation. The pansy flower represents Free Thought. The reason for separating…Continue reading “The Political Atlas (A New Spectrum Model)”

20Oct 201929 Jan 2024

My Complete “Thesis” on SMiLE

In this series of essays, I will share my thoughts on Brian Wilson’s unfinished SMiLE album from 1966-1967. The Beach…

1Jun 20192 Jan 2020

A Panoramic Vertigo Analysis

This is a multi-part series where I look at Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo from every conceivable angle. It’s my favorite movie…

31May 201931 May 2021

The Sempronian Manifesto

This series contains two parts, the first being a set of constitutional reforms and the other a policy platform. Together,…

Media Analyses…

Castles in the Clouds (The Artistry of Video Games)

7 Apr 201913 Apr 2019

As a youngster, I always imagined that the castle in the background of the "Mickey and the Beanstalk" world in Mickey Mania (SNES) was supposed to be the Mad Doctor's…

Media Analyses…

George Lucas, the Regretful Artist

6 Apr 20196 Apr 2019

I really believe that Star Wars is a case where the story about the series, (and of the creator), is just as interesting if not more so than at least 75%…

Cornfed Pig, the Enigmatic Sidekick

4 Apr 201921 Mar 2020

I love Duckman. It's such an unapologetically irreverent program, both in terms of writing and the art style. In my opinion, Duckman doesn't get the credit it deserves for helping…

Media Analyses…

Chrono Trigger’s Plot Hole

3 Apr 20198 Apr 2019

I want to discuss the only flaw in the story of Chrono Trigger--The Black Omen. It's inevitable that every story which relies upon time travel is going to be littered with…

Media Analyses…

Thoughts on the Tolkien Wizards

3 Apr 20194 Apr 2019

When the wizards came into the world, they all chose to focus on different aspects of the canvas called Arda. And that decision defined their personalities just as it determined…

Media Analyses…

Less is More (Screencap from All About Eve)

3 Apr 201921 Apr 2019

Do you think there's as much depth in something as simple as a picture or small poem when compared to larger works of art, such as a novel or film?…

The Most Thought-Provoking Character in Game of Thrones

I was thinking about Game of Thrones and the prostitute from Volantis that’s dressed up like Dany. What kind of thought process goes into something like that, do you think? What's the…

Thoughts & Memories

“This is My World and Welcome to It!” ~Chuckie Finster

1 Apr 201925 May 2019

One week in, and we've made it to Post #27, which just so happens to be my favorite number. So, to mark this "special" occasion, I thought I'd provide some…

Media Analyses…

The Martyr of Zeal

1 Apr 201913 Apr 2019

For context, there is an SNES/PS1/DS game called Chrono Trigger, and it's a favorite of mine. Besides being a fun RPG title, it boasts one of the most thought provoking and…

Thoughts & Memories

Influential Women of Ancient Rome

31 Mar 201931 Jul 2019

The history of Rome, like many Antiquity and Medieval societies, is mostly men's story. This is because women were forbidden to run for office (or even set foot in the…

Media Analyses…

Profound Moments in Rugrats

31 Mar 201931 Jul 2019

In regards to Nickelodeon’s history, Ren and Stimpy is undeniably the most influential for the field of animation and Spongebob is by far their most successful hit. However, I will always argue that Rugrats stands head…

Vertigo (7/10) Color/Lighting and its Meaning

31 Mar 201926 Oct 2019

Source for the header image is the fantastic blog, Moviebarcode. I highly recommend checking out their work. Vertigo has been described as a “film noir in technicolor.” I believe that's…

Vertigo (6/10) Midge Wood Analysis

31 Mar 201921 Mar 2020

Probably Scottie's true best match, or the closest thing he ever had to one, though sadly he never knew it. Even Judy I don't think deserves that title, considering she…

Vertigo (5/10) Gavin Elster Analysis

31 Mar 201926 Oct 2019

In my estimation, the most monstrous yet thoroughly understated villain in any film I've seen yet. He may not be as iconic as Darth Vader, or as menacing as Hannibal…

Vertigo (4/10) Judy Barton Analysis

31 Mar 201931 Jan 2024

Judy Barton is perhaps the most tragic character in the entire film, which is saying a lot, the naive and insecure country girl in the big city. Unfortunately, she gets…

Vertigo (3/10) Madeleine Elster Analysis

30 Mar 201931 Jan 2024

We never meet the real Madeleine at all in the movie so, like Scottie, we only get to see an idealized fantasy. Madeleine as played by Judy is elegant, regal,…

Vertigo (2/10) John “Scottie” Ferguson Analysis

30 Mar 201930 Jan 2024

Overall, John "Scottie" Ferguson is one of cinema's most complex and interesting antiheroes. This is a character who's completely ensconced in a fantasy for almost the entire film, racked with…

Media Analyses…

Vertigo (1/10) My Overall Thoughts & General Reaction

30 Mar 201930 Jan 2024

I first saw Hitchcock's Vertigo when I was about 13 or 14, on a broken up series of YouTube videos back before they screened everything for copyright. At the time,…

The Greatest Romance of All Time (Literally, I Guess)

29 Mar 201925 May 2019

Recently I watched what has come to be my all-time favorite episode of any TV show: Star Trek's "The City on the Edge of Forever." In the first place, I'm…

Queens of the Loud House (My Sister Leni Review)

29 Mar 201921 Mar 2020

Source for the Header Image. Artist is TheFreshKnight Usually, I enjoy a dark gritty TV drama like Mad Men, Breaking Bad or Game of Thrones. (I may share my thoughts…

Media Analyses…

The Mask of Ice: A Collection in 9 Poetic Forms

27 Mar 201924 Feb 2020

Most of you reading this would have probably seen the header below and wondered how Blue could be considered forgotten when he was the rival in the first generation Pokemon…

Media Analyses…

Door to the Abyss (My 3 Attempts at Visual Poetry)

26 Mar 201911 Apr 2019

The first two poems I wrote in my sophomore year of college for a writing class. They're meant to be companion pieces, hence the way the second looks as though…

Nickelodeon Heroines (3/3) Lauren Zelmer

26 Mar 20198 Dec 2019

I'll just be upfront about it: Just for Kicks is not very good. Rewatching it recently, I have to admit it's worse than I remembered in fact. It does get…

Nickelodeon Heroines (2/3) Clarissa Darling

26 Mar 201914 Mar 2020

I’ve gone on and on about what an excellent character Clarissa Darling is to anyone who will listen, and I’m gonna reiterate some of those points now. The Voice of…

Media Analyses…

Nickelodeon Heroines (1/3) Introduction

26 Mar 201922 Dec 2019

I don’t need an excuse to gush about the amazing show that is Clarissa Explains it All, but I was just talking about it with a friend, looked it up on…

Taxi Driver (2/2) A Pervasive Disconnect

Along with the brilliance of its writing and acting, Taxi Driver is a masterpiece for its cinematography alone. So many shots out of the blurry view from the windshield and the…

Taxi Driver (1/2) Lonesome Charon

Taxi Driver is one of my favorite movies and essential viewing for everybody, especially with all the pseudo-Travis' out there committing many of these mass shootings today. Taxi Driver is…

Obscure ’65-’75 Era Albums I Recommend (Commentary)

These are my thoughts and comments regarding the groupings of some obscure albums I listed here. So make sure you're familiar with that for context. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRlCXFUoT7Y In total, that list…

Obscure ’65-’75 Era Albums I Recommend (The List)

25 Mar 201914 Jan 2023

I really like late '60s psychedelic rock and sunshine pop as well as early '70s progressive rock and avant garde music. That said, sometimes the classics in these genres (Jimi…

The Most Depressing Story I’ve Ever Read

25 Mar 201922 Dec 2019

I read Steven Saylor's Roma the summer after my freshman year in college. This novel tells the story of the Roman Republic through a series of chapters where each follows…