Monthly Archives: May 2014

“Case Closed” on “Redskins” Rationale?

Posted on May 30, 2014 by Tom Garrett

On Olbermann last night, host Keith Olbermann delivered a powerful anti-“Redskins” commentary tied both to the team’s ill-advised #RedskinsPride hashtag campaign, as well as a recent discovery that the team’s name was not chosen partially to honor head coach “Lone Star” … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, General Culture and News, Sports | Tagged Commentary, Damon Runyon, ESPN, General Culture and News, George Preston Marshall, Keith Olbermann, NewspaperArchive.com, Racism?, Redskins, Sports, Washington Redskins | 7 Comments

“Make sure ‘MOUTH’ is in all-caps”

Posted on May 28, 2014 by Tom Garrett

“Hey, remember Pop Rocks? Kids like those, right?” “Well, sir, they’re still around, but they aren’t quite as popular as . . . ” “I loved them when I was a kid!” “Right, I was going to say they were … Continue reading →

Posted in General Culture and News, Pictures | Tagged Cereal, Food, Fruity Pebbles, General Culture and News, Humor, Kraft, Kraft General Foods, Pictures, Pop Rocks, Poppin Pebbles, Post Cereals | 1 Comment

Untimely Movie Review: Mrs. Miniver

Posted on May 22, 2014 by Tom Garrett

I’ll confess that I knew almost nothing if Mrs. Miniver before I watched it. About the only thing I was aware of was that it won Best Picture. So, with a blank slate, I dove in. As it turns out, Mrs. Miniver is about … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Movies, Reviews | Tagged Commentary, Greer Garson, Movies, Mrs. Miniver, Reviews, Walter Pidgeon | 8 Comments

The WWE Has a Big Problem. Here’s the Solution. Really.

Posted on May 19, 2014 by Tom Garrett

The WWE has a problem. Surprisingly, I’m not talking about anything related to stock value or corporate governance. I’m referring specifically to the aspect of pro wrestling that matters most to me as a fan: Storytelling. And, whether the creative … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Television | Tagged Bad News Barrett, Bray Wyatt, CM Punk, Commentary, John Cena, Monday Night Raw, Pro Wrestling, Professional Wrestling, Television, The Miz, Wade Barrett, WWE | 6 Comments

Untimely Movie Review: The Maltese Falcon

Posted on May 16, 2014 by Tom Garrett

The problem with The Maltese Falcon isn’t that it’s a movie based on a book, it’s that it’s a movie that feels like it’s based on a play. The 1941 film is one of the earliest, greatest examples of film noir. It … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Movies, Reviews | Tagged Commentary, Dashiell Hammett, Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Movies, Peter Lorre, Reviews, Sydney Greenstreet, The Maltese Falcon, Warner Bros., Warner Brothers | 7 Comments

A “Free Speech” Misconception

Posted on May 14, 2014 by Tom Garrett

If there’s an upside to having to listen to national arguments about “offensive” ideas on a weekly basis, it’s this: The increasing frequency of those debates has highlighted a misguided point repeatedly made about “free speech.” The argument normally follows these … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, General Culture and News, Politics | Tagged Adam Carolla, Commentary, Free Speech, Freedom of Speech, General Culture and News, Leslie Jones, Patton Oswalt, Politics, Stephen Colbert, The First Amendment | 4 Comments

We’re Doomed (Or: A Defense of President Obama)

Posted on May 8, 2014 by Tom Garrett

A recent Robot History Month (a/k/a “April”) visit to Japan by President Obama sparked some consternation among right-leaning media outlets. This bluster arose due to the fact that the president had the audacity to reciprocate a bow from an … Continue reading →