Movie theatres have been a significant part of American culture for decades. A gathering place for everyone. Occasionally, huge movies became cultural events. Everyone saw them at the theatre; they were universal experiences that became part of pop culture and regular conversations everywhere. In 2023, there were some such movies. We will be talking about the shock wave of the Bomb in Oppenheimer and...

[Content Warning: If you're unaware, this is a horror film. Some pretty dark stuff follows.] A rumbling sound then three sharp knocks: BA BA DOOK DOOK DOOK. That’s when you’ll know that he’s around. In The Babadook, directed by Jennifer Kent, a single mother, depressed because of the death of her husband, starts being stalked by a monster, whose presence frightens her son and causes her to...

As the first overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, expectations were understandably high for Jared Goff. The Cal product established himself as a star in his final college season, throwing just shy of 4,700 yards with a 64.5% completion rate, all while averaging 8.9 yards per attempt. He also had 43 touchdowns compared to 13 interceptions. His rookie year with the NFL's Los Angeles Rams was tough, as...

Kickoffs. They’ve been a part of football for over a century, hearkening back to a time before the founding of the NFL itself, when football still did not allow innovations like "the snap" or "forward passes." Kickoffs have changed form over the course of football history. 2024 is the newest step forward, as the NFL has now introduced a new kickoff format. This new style, called the Dynamic Kickoff,...

Do you perchance like any of the following concepts: liberty, democracy, or Earth? Have you ever wanted to fight bugs that were harvested for their resources on government plants that broke o—I mean bugs that have no elections and must be liberated of their resources, robot sla—I mean protesting unionized automaton workers, or an alien race that at this time is not recognized by the government?...

Honkai Star Rail is an immersive turn-based open-world RPG game released in late April 2023, the fourth in the Honkai series. As the player, you tag along with the Astral Express crew to explore and help save planets across the universe from seeds of disaster known as "stellarons." There are many aspects to the game that can be seen in other Hoyoverse titles, but one of the most unique aspects is...

Like everyone else, sometimes I feel a powerful need to grab a pint of Häagen-Dazs dulce de leche and dig out shavings of soft, cold, sweet caramel until my brain decides that I am no longer at optimal body temperature. Before I get on my actual soapbox, let's be clear: this is the mature, adult, restrained version of this urge. When I was in college, I happily dug my way through entire pints of...

The last time I showed up around these parts to talk about food, because I have a gift for staking out popular positions that will be shared by absolutely everyone in time, I chose to talk about how cooking during lockdown taught me the value of not wasting anything in your kitchen. I stand by that, to be clear, especially as every grocery store chain openly gouges us, gives us some sorry excuse we...

As I roam and traverse this empty hall, I start wondering if it's the same at all As the raucous building that I used to hear Throughout all the days of yesteryear. Here I am, though I should really be free; This is basically an educational tyranny. Learning my lessons all over again? If this is for real, I might go insane. I'm at the room now, though I'd rather hide From the ultimate...

I left you, mother, at such a young age, and turned to sadness and sorrow and rage. The Danes had family and friendship alike, and they tasted better than sheep and the like.   They would fruitlessly run right away, whenever I opened the hall to light from the day. Then I began coming at night, leaving them with quite a blight.   Never would I be normal like them, they...

[Ed. Note—As you've probably guessed, this was supposed to run in our annual Shield Gets Spoopy issue—but Mr. Collings' heroic labor was not supported by enough of his colleagues. We apologize to him for that, and intend to re-run this somewhat often.] During the Spooky Season, I have heard from so many people that there is not a great selection of listenable music. There is the Monster Mash...

There are many styles of song within the vast range of "classic rock." My personal favorite of these styles is the smooth approach: sometimes called soft rock or yacht rock. There's many a smooth tune to be found in this genre. Now, what exactly makes a song smooth? I will tell you. In order for something to be smooth, it has to be soft and relaxing. There may be an individual who thinks that...