Arts & Culture
Arts & Culture
Super Bowl Celebrates America
Ari Armstrong February 3, 2014
The Super Bowl game was a glorious victory for the Seattle Seahawks and a stunning loss for the Denver Broncos. But the game, while focused on athletic competition, involved more than that: It involved a celebration of American liberty and of American commerce, an economic consequence of that liberty.
Arts & Culture
Celebrating Mozart’s Music on His Birthday
Robert Begley January 27, 2014
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, born January 27, 1756, was not only a musical genius and prolific composer; he also founded or revolutionized several genres. Here are some of his accomplishments.
Arts & Culture
Duck Quacks Don’t Echo: A Fun New Show About Scientific Facts
Craig Biddle January 22, 2014
“The show that proves unusual scientific facts in the most hilarious ways.” That’s the billing for the delightful new television show Duck Quacks Don’t Echo, co-hosted by Tom Papa, Michael Ian Black, and Seth Herzog. Duck Quacks premiered January 13 on National Geographic Channel, where two half-hour episodes air back…
Arts & Culture
Peyton Manning and What Matters
Ari Armstrong January 19, 2014
For members and fans of the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots, today’s AFC championship football game is nearly as important as the Super Bowl. Two of the greatest quarterbacks of all time—Peyton Manning and Tom Brady—will lead spectacularly successful teams in one of the greatest athletic competitions of…
Arts & Culture, Science & Technology
Jobs Celebrates Man Who Put a Dent in the Universe
Ari Armstrong January 4, 2014
Fittingly, Jobs opens with Steve Jobs receiving well-earned applause from Apple employees for the release of the iPod, a device that would, as Jobs predicted, revolutionize the music industry. Music is just one of several industries Jobs would revolutionize over the course of his career. Although it strays from essentials…
Arts & Culture
Contra Critics, New Hunger Games Film Promotes Positive Values
Ari Armstrong November 23, 2013
According to Sandra Lee Dixon, the new film The Hunger Games: Catching Fire celebrates violence rather than challenges it. But she entirely misses the point of the work and of the second of a trilogy of novels on which it is based. Yes, the premise of the film is brutal…
Arts & Culture, Reviews
Review: Notorious
Scott McConnell November 20, 2013
Scott McConnell reviews Notorious, directed by Alfred Hitchcock.
Arts & Culture, Reviews
Review: The Mark of Zorro
Scott McConnell November 20, 2013
Scott McConnell reviews The Mark of Zorro, directed by Rouben Mamoulian.
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Arts & Culture, Philosophy
Matthew McConaughey: “I’m a Fan of the Word Selfish”
Ari Armstrong November 16, 2013
Recently actor Matthew McConaughey, speaking of his desire to “evolve” as an actor and make more interesting films, shared his perspective on selfishness with GQ: I got much more selfish. I'm a fan of the word selfish. Self. Ish. When I say I have gotten a lot more self-ish, I…
Arts & Culture
Shark Tank Celebrates Individualism and Capitalism
Joseph Kellard November 5, 2013
[caption id="attachment_9808" align="alignright" width="300"] Image: Randstad Canada[/caption] ABC’s reality show Shark Tank offers a rare showcase of the character and abilities that entrepreneurs and investors cultivate to create and build businesses. The show features entrepreneurs who pitch their ideas to five investor “sharks” and seek to negotiate financing. On past…