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Late Halloween Riddle

From First Thoughts

What is black and white but leaves law-literate liberals shrieking and gibbering with fright? The anti-Obamacare brief from the public interest law arm of the Claremont Institute! I.e., for liberals, the ultimate CLAREMONSTER!!! . . . . Continue Reading »

Class to Spare: Zooey Deschanel

From First Thoughts

Yeah, she was the cute-as-can-be gal in the one great Will Farrell movie, Elf .  Also in Almost Famous , early on as the hip sister who becomes a stewardess. The commenters at Big Hollywood are happy about Zooey’s rendition of national anthem at the World Series—not her first time at . . . . Continue Reading »

Five Vital Rock Movie Theses

From First Thoughts

They’re vital, at least, for those not wanting to apply the brain to Mr. Cain. 1.) It sounds like  John Presnall is right about that documentary by Crowe on Pearl Jam, but I now have a slight interest in it, because the apparently poor choice of rockumentary material might indicate . . . . Continue Reading »

Whit Stillman Makes Virtue Fun

From First Thoughts

Everything’s been coming up Whit Stillman for me lately. Re-watched Barcelona, for various reasons found myself reading both Jane Austen and Lionel Trilling, and then my wife gave me the scripts of Barcelona and Metropolitan for my birthday. Here’s a reflection a couples years ago about . . . . Continue Reading »