Category Archives: Pop Culture

Eternal Optimism

Posted on May 7, 2018 by Thomas_Easterling

My friends Deb and Jim Fallows have a new book coming out tomorrow: Our Towns: A 100,000 Mile Journey into the Heart of America looks at cities around the country that have rebounded after devastating plant closings and the like. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in National Politics, Pop Culture | 6 Comments

And now for something completely different. . .

Posted on May 3, 2018 by Thomas_Easterling

A student request: I was wondering if you could make a blog post about how Kanye West lost all of his followers (around 9.2 million) in a matter of minutes due to the fact he posted a picture in a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Pop Culture | 19 Comments

Dark and Time Travel

Posted on February 5, 2018 by Thomas_Easterling

My wife and I have just finished the first season of Dark on Netflix. I’m not a sci-fi fan–I know, it’s a real, moral shortcoming on my part–but Dark poses questions about time travel that wakened my inner philosopher. I … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Pop Culture, Science | 12 Comments

Most Painful Super Bowl Ad

Posted on February 5, 2018 by Thomas_Easterling

Last night’s Super Bowl was just what the NFL needed: an exciting, well-played game, largely devoid of controversy, full of compelling drama. The ads, however, were duds. The Alexa commercial was clever. The NFL’s house ads with Eli Manning and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Pop Culture, Sports | 15 Comments

“Borrowing” a Few Moments of Somebody Else’s Time

Posted on October 2, 2017 by Thomas_Easterling

Help me understand. How can people who have cell phones that cost hundreds of dollars claim that they’re too broke to pay for the films they watch on those devices? How can people at any level of income justify watching … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Arts, Pop Culture | 25 Comments

The A Words

Posted on September 18, 2017 by Thomas_Easterling

Just curious: should we consider appropriation and assimilation dirty words? Could we make just as compelling a case that they constitute forms of flattery? Continue reading →

Posted in Pop Culture, Race in Mississippi | 33 Comments

Why Binge?

Posted on September 11, 2017 by Thomas_Easterling

Over the last year, I’ve watched Ozark, The Man in the Green Castle, Bosch, Dear White People, The Keepers–just to name a few. My viewing involves a modicum of guilt. I’m enjoying myself, but I occasionally find myself watching for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Pop Culture | 28 Comments

A Chance to be 49th

Posted on April 24, 2017 by Thomas_Easterling

Mississippi doesn’t embrace many chances to avoid winning last place, but here’s an easy one: we’re one of the last two states to recognize “Confederate Memorial Day.” Alabama is the other one. Regardless of what one feels about our state … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Pop Culture, Race in Mississippi | 29 Comments

And another thing. . .or two

Posted on January 9, 2017 by Thomas_Easterling

If I’m worried about the future I see for education, I sense even more trepidation than optimism when it comes to the things I see outside the ivory tower. Here are some topics I’d like us to consider: Everyday usage: … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Pop Culture | 22 Comments