Entertainment

An Open Letter to Joe Rogan and Bryan Callen Dear Joe and Bryan, As a long time listener and fan I’d like to write to you both regarding your views on Education and the Economy. I feel that both of you underestimate the value these institutions have in society and culture as a whole. We have greater autonomy as individuals than ever before. Unfortunately this can create an attitude dismissive towards institutions playing the roles of cornerstones in civilization. On both accounts I feel your misguided views come from a disconnect between created value and inherent value. Ultimately what we all appreciate are good people whose words we can trust. In the long run Education and Economics reward these attributes. Regardless of technical proficiency or perceived skill, if...
7,716
Dear Ms. Rowling, I wanted to write you a letter so that you'd know there are writers, as well as readers, who think Lynn Shepherd is wrong. On their behalf, I beseech you not to give up writing as she suggested. I hope this missive doesn't arrive too late... Like many authors, Ms. Shepherd is frustrated at the rocky, dusty, and rock-dusty path we writers tread. Success seems so far away and despite our efforts to pen works of art and then peddle them to our readers, the best-seller lists contain mostly the names of the already-famous. James Patterson, Michael Connolly, Donna Tartt. You. I mean, where's my castle in Scotland? But don't feel bad, because Ms. Shepherd is wrong. You haven't stolen any of my readers, nor bumped me from the front table at Barnes...
3,304
Dear Ellen, God loves you. You are created in his likeness, you bear his image, and He loves you. He really loves you. I don't know what you're upbringing was like… I'm not going to try and diagnose your lesbianism as being a result of daddy issues or "never having the loving arms of a father." Besides, whatever way you were brought up doesn't really matter. Based on what the Bible teaches (pleeeeeease don't tune me out here. Drink some coffee. Take an Adderall. Do what you need to do… but don't tune me out, yet!), before your upbringing, before you even exited your mother's womb, sin had already affected you. I'm sure you know the account of Genesis 3-Adam and Eve-well. As most people in America do… even if they just view it as a fictitious tale. I do not view it as a fictitious...
9,387
I recently read Salman Rushdie discussing his latest work 'Two Years, Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights' and what really caught my attention is what he said inspired it! Rushdie feels as though the world is turning upside down and society is drastically changing. His exact words were: "[The novel’s storyline about Jinns] connected in my mind to this idea I had about living in a world where the rules are breaking down, where the world is changing so fast in all directions that a lot of people have a sense of bewilderment. You don’t actually know what the rules are anymore, and you have a sense that maybe there are other people much younger than you who do know what the rules are, and are thereby make billions by inventing, what, Snapchat? What the hell is that? That, apparently,...
2,591
Dear Anthony, I recently read that you thought it might be time to change the image of the beloved 'chain-smoking, smooth-talking and sexist' James Bond and I think perhaps you're right! I've loved reading and watching James Bond as I've grown up, from the witty one-liners after defeating his enemies to the ease at which he would pick up some of the most beautiful women in the world. I'm sure a lot of die-hard Bond fans will be getting a little annoyed at the idea of a politically-correct Bond, but my understanding is though although he may be rewritten somewhat, it is a rewrite that is needed to keep him relevant. That isn't to say that we all want our Bond to become some awkward grovelling Hugh Grant-type, afraid of saying anything a little risky! But I'm sure as a seasoned...
3,450
I love Stephen King's work...but I have a problem with it. Well not exactly with his 'work' but what's done with it. For starters there's a lot of it and what this means is that some of it just isn't going to be as good as others. There is of course nothing wrong with that! Stephen's had some pretty amazing novels in his time and it'd be near impossible to have the same level of success with each piece of work. His work is well known for being adapted to make films, take The Shining for example, what an amazing book and film! But the problem I have is that the success of some of these novel turned films has meant the flood gates have literally opened and now there is a seemingly endless amount of some truly awful films with King's name attached to them. The problem I have is that...
2,577
Harper Lee has had a pretty unique career. It looked as though her first book, To Kill A Mockingbird, was going to be her only work released. Who could blame her to be honest, Lee was young at the time of its release and it has gone on to sell 40m million copies and become renowned as one of the best-loved books of all time. Its completely understandable why someone might not be willing to release any more content, after all who would want to potentially taint their image of being one of the best authors of all time? This of course leads me on to the excitement that hit the media and myself when I first heard that she had announced a sequel to To Kill a Mockingbird! For a while I thought it might be an April Fools joke, especially as it was a shot out of the blue and I'm sure...
2,639
Dear Ellen, I don't really know where to begin but to simply tell you thank you for being you. You bring out the definition of what everyday people should be: happy, funny, and living life to it fullest. All three of these are probably just a little in site into the kind of person you are. You are definitely one special human being. It has always been a dream of mine to meet you or someday be apart of your show, but let's face it... I'm not musically or artistically talented, a crazy athlete or someone with a huge life story. I guess for now I'll have to deal with the fact that I thought it was the coolest thing to come to Warner Brother's Studio, when I took my trip to California back in May, and be within feet of your studio (and where you park, but shh my tour guide said to keep...
4,001
September 9, 1990 Dear Friends, When I saw your Calendar cover today about George Michael, "the reluctant pop star," my first reaction was he should thank the good Lord every morning when he wakes up to have all that he has., And that'll make two of us thanking God every morning for all that we have. I don't understand a guy who lives "in hopes of reducing the strain of his celebrity status." Here's a kid who "wanted to be a pop star since I was about 7 years old." And now that he's a smash performer and songwriter at 27 he wants to quit doing what tons of gifted youngsters all over the world would shoot grandma for - just one crack at what he's complaining about. Come on George, Loosen up. Swing, man, Dust off those gossamer wings and fly yourself to the moon of your choice...
3,718
Dear Elton, First of all, my apologies for not calling you ‘sir,’ but I’m an American and we don’t really go in for all that nobility stuff over on this side of the pond. Don’t fret, however; we still worship celebrities, which is why every single news site I read breathlessly reported your comments regarding Jesus, the Pope and the Catholic Church this week. As a Catholic myself, I have to take issue with a few of the things you said in your Sky News interview – namely, that Jesus Christ would support gay “marriage,” that the traditions of the Catholic Church are “old and stupid,” and that Pope Francis has “stripped [the Church] down to the bare bones” – a development you find “wonderful.” But before I jump into all that, let me back up about eight years to 2006. Back then, in...
6,613

Pages