Iraq War part 2: A look back at 2003

In 2003, The space shuttle Columbia disintegrated on reentry into earth’s atmosphere; The US and allied forces invaded Iraq; The Human Genome Project was completed; The Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia, and Slovakia joined the European Union; Tesla was founded; Robert Novak controversially identified Valeria Plane as a covert agent; 4chan… Continue reading Iraq War part 2: A look back at 2003

The year of the great video game crash: A look back 1983

The Disney Channel began broadcasting; Sally Ride became the first American woman in space; Dragon’s Lair was released in arcades; The Famicom (known in the United States as the Nintendo Entertainment System) was released; Vanessa Williams became the first African-American Miss America; Brunei and Saint Kitts and Nevis became independent states; Microsoft Word was released;… Continue reading The year of the great video game crash: A look back 1983

The year Trump entered the world: A look back at 1946

In 1946, The United Nations held its first meeting; Juan Perón was elected president of Argentina; Trygve Lie became the first Secretary-General of the United Nations; Syria and the Philippines became independent nations; Sony was founded (as Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering); The first bikini was modeled in Paris; Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis debuted their comedy partnership; Mensa was founded;… Continue reading The year Trump entered the world: A look back at 1946

Best of the 1900s

  Kobelkoff (1900) This short film about “Human Torso” Nikolai Kobelokoff reminds us how different the world was a century ago. With no arms or legs, Kobelkoff became a circus freak. In this short snippet it looks like he is enjoying his life despite his severe handicap. Some viewers will see this as exploitation; they have… Continue reading Best of the 1900s

Santa’s theory of the girl in a cage: A film by Bergman

  La Cage aux Folles (1978) Renato owns a nightclub featuring his longtime lover, and accomplished drag performer, Albin. This creates complications when Laurent, Renato’s son from a previous relationship, brings his fiancée and her conservative parents home. After watching Robin Williams and Nathan Lane enthusiastically two-step their way through an energetic love affair alongside the perfectly cast Gene… Continue reading Santa’s theory of the girl in a cage: A film by Bergman

The piercing carols

  A Christmas Carol (2009) The ghost of Jacob Marley (Gary Oldman) visits his former partner,the rich but miserable, Ebenezer Scrooge (Jim Carey) to warn him he needs to change his selfish ways. On Christmas Eve, three ghosts (all played by Carey) show Scrooge visions of Christmases Past, Present, and Future and by the end of… Continue reading The piercing carols