Best of the 2020s

  Hamilton (2020) This filmed performance of the original cast of the most iconic Broadway musical of the young twenty first century somehow exceeded my lofty expectations. My only quibble is Anthony Ramos as the younger Hamilton in the second act. He’s very good as Laurens in the first half, but as Phillip Hamilton his… Continue reading Best of the 2020s

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Learn to live with the unimaginable: A look back at 2021

In 2021, Supporters of US President Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol to delay the certification of Joe Biden as President; The COVID 19 pandemic continued to wreak havoc; Hideki Matsuyama won the Masters Tournament, becoming the first Japanese player to win a major golf championship; Space X and Blue Origin launched space tourism flights;… Continue reading Learn to live with the unimaginable: A look back at 2021

Class of 2021

In 2021, Supporters of President Donald Trump attacked the US Capitol to protest the result of the 2020 US Presidential election; SpaceX launched and landed a Starship prototype; Benjamin Netanyahu lost his bid to continue as Prime Minister of Israel; Blue Origin launched its first commercial space flight, The Games of the XXXII Olympiad were… Continue reading Class of 2021

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Camelot was just beginning: A look back at 1961

In 1961, The United States severed diplomatic relations with Cuba; John F Kennedy became the 35th President of the United States of America; Barbie’s boyfriend, Ken, debuted; Adolf Eichmann’s trial took place in Jerusalem; Sierra Leone, South Africa, and Kuwait declared independence from the UK; Alan Shephard became the first American in space; Newton Minnow… Continue reading Camelot was just beginning: A look back at 1961

Stuck at Home(r): Season 11

11.1 Beyond Blunderdome After an early preview of Mel Gibson’s new remake of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is poorly reviewed, Homer is hired to rewrite the ending. He gives Mel what he thinks he wants: an ending where Mr. Smith opens fire on Congress (which plays differently in 2021), but studio executives hate the… Continue reading Stuck at Home(r): Season 11

Five years before America’s bicentennial: A look back at 1971

In 1971, Charles Manson was found guilty of the Tate-LaBianca murders; Joe Frazier defeated Muhammad Ali in The Fight of the Century; The Ed Sullivan Show aired its final episode; Starbucks and FedEx were founded; The New York Times published The Pentagon Papers; Richard Nixon declared the War on Drugs; Walt Disney World opened; The… Continue reading Five years before America’s bicentennial: A look back at 1971

Everything that follows is older than Cardi B: A look back at 1991

In 1991: Operation Desert Storm took place; The Dow Jones closed over 3000 for the first time; Queen Elizabeth II became the first British monarch to address the US Congress; Thurgood Marshall retired from the US Supreme Court and Clarence Thomas replaced him; Sega released Sonic the Hedgehog; Mike Tyson was arrested and charged with… Continue reading Everything that follows is older than Cardi B: A look back at 1991

The year the towers fell: A look back at 2001

In 2001, American Online and Time Warner merged; Wikipedia launched; George W. Bush became the 43rd President of the United States; Hijackers crashed America Airlines flight 11 and United Airlines flight 175 into the World Trade Center; Nintendo released the Gamecube; Apple introduced the iPod; Microsoft released the Xbox;  Enron declared bankruptcy; Mister Roger’s Neighborhood aired… Continue reading The year the towers fell: A look back at 2001

Stuck at Home(r): Season 10

Lard of the Dance (10.1) The new girl at school, Whitney (Lisa Kudrow) makes Lisa jealous. Meanwhile, Homer and Bart start a grease business, leading to a feud with Groundskeeper Willie. The two stories converge at the school dance when the grease explodes and all the kids play in it. Lisa’s problems with other girls… Continue reading Stuck at Home(r): Season 10

Chevrolet turned 100: A look back at 2011

In 2011, Mohamed Bouazizi’s self-immolation sparked the Arab Spring; Prince William married Catherine Middleton; The eruption of Grímsvötn disrupted air travel in Northwestern Europe; NASA announced it had photographic evidence of water on Mars; Occupy Wall Street protests began in the United States; The global population surpassed seven billion; Minecraft was released; Watson defeated Ken… Continue reading Chevrolet turned 100: A look back at 2011