Published in Storius Magazine·May 11Member-onlyVR, Temptation, and the “Experience Machine” in ‘Ready Player One’Real emotions in a synthetic world — The sci-fi/fantasy feature Ready Player One illustrates modern dilemmas between human nature and its interaction with technology, stories, and sociocultural developments. OASIS, the VR game that provides the majority of the plot foundation in the film, has damaged the psyche and sociability of many of the characters. …Movies6 min read
Published in Catholicism for the Modern World·Apr 29Member-only‘Father Stu’ — The Most Memorable Religious Movie in Recent YearsAn Extensive Review — A priest once said in a homily that, if you find life easy, you’re doing it wrong. Our lives are made increasingly complex with each passing year, as we accumulate more emotional baggage, more technology, more stuff. Even if this weren’t the case, there comes our way any number of…Catholic17 min read
Published in The Partnered Pen·Apr 26Member-onlyFree Books: What More Food Banks Should Offer“Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.” — Francis Bacon, ‘Of Studies’ Food banks have provided families and individuals with necessary staples for years. The first time I found myself going to one was the 2020–2021 academic year. A…Books3 min read
Published in Of Intellect and Interest·Apr 25Member-only‘Father Stu’ is a Story of Faith and Redemption Made by Two Guys Who Have Faith and Need RedemptionThe screen fades from black to a scene of a solitary man, his body tense and sweating profusely, standing in a clearing in the midst of a forest. He is in dialogue with God and yet, while praying, another figure butts into his conversation sowing seeds of despair. Moments later…Father Stu5 min read
Published in Of Intellect and Interest·Apr 23Member-onlyFaith and Family in ‘Lost in Space’As a kid, my parents purchased DVD copies of the 1960s TV show Lost in Space. The old sci-fi series, which transitioned from black-and-white to color over its three-year run, was not just significant of the changing landscape of the genre and medium. …TV Series14 min read
Published in Of Intellect and Interest·Apr 23Member-onlyDUNE: An Exciting but Ambiguous Cinematic IntroductionA Film Review — Say what you will about Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit trilogy (that it, for instance, in many ways grew worse as time wore on), each installment was typically punctuated with a beginning and a definitive end. (Except for The Desolation of Smaug, which ended on a year-long cliff-hanger.) …Movies4 min read
Published in Of Intellect and Interest·Apr 18Member-onlyCommunism: A Common Thread in Russia-China RelationsWhy Putin’s Russia and Xi’s China Are Cozy Bedfellows — Russia and China are two birds of a feather, a particular variety with markedly scarlet plumage. And they like to flock together. These countries, which already had healthy relations before the military movements made in February, are two of the globe’s greatest strongholds of Communism. Two autocratic superpowers whose societies…Russia4 min read
Published in The Partnered Pen·Apr 17Member-onlyBoulder of Living WaterA Poem for Easter — Easter1 min readBoulder of Living WaterA Poem for Easter----
Published in Of Intellect and Interest·Apr 16Member-only4 Reasons Why Burundi Remains in PovertyThe East African country of Burundi, despite having a veritable wellspring of natural resources, is one of the highest poverty-stricken locales on the planet. As per a report from Global Finance Magazine published last year, the sovereign country then topped the charts as the poorest in the world. Sandwiched between…World3 min read
Published in Of Intellect and Interest·Apr 14Member-onlyRepetitive Prayer in the Garden of GethsemaneFollowing the institution of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper, Jesus takes His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. There, we are told, Jesus pleads with His Father to “remove this cup” from Him. Why is God the Son asking God the Father to…Catholic4 min read