This is M.

Confusedly Formed, Part 1

A short summary of life post finals before launching into a reading of the first part of my honors thesis, "Confusedly Formed: Xici zhuan 繫辭傳 as a Normative Account of World Genesis According to Baumann’s First Principles of Science."

Leave the World Behind

An almost entirely cinematic installment where I discuss Christopher Nolan's "Tenet" and the creative danger of being confusing, the unexpectedly great new film "Leave the World Behind," and the begrudgingly great "All Quiet on the Western Front," which somehow reintroduces the horrors of war in a world saturated with anti-war movies.

Elementary Empathy

The end of the semester drawing near, having to already send my new firearm in for a repair, a protracted discussion of my simultaneous interest in firearms while also disliking gun culture generally, and the anti-elementary empathy of two Todd Haynes films: "Safe" and "May December."

Built Different

Depleted again as we near the end of another semester, the swampy sedentary state of doing a whole lot of nothing, the prospect of exchanging  intelligence for happiness, the aspirational self-designation of being "built different," and ye olde plot twist of therapy.

Masters of the Universe Syndrome

To Portland and back for a friend's birthday, being on the right by virtue of the left's current position, intent vs. impact, the incredulity of the far-left in the face of obviously good intentions, and the political sophistication to be feared from Trump 2.0.

Firearm as Phallus

A soupy installment wherein I express my affinity for firearms but disgust with gun culture, my occasional respect for Ben Shapiro despite identifying as a liberal, and my indeterminate position on the conflict between Israel and Palestine when the culture seems to demand you take a side.

The Biggest Loser

The final push of the semester and the looming theses thereto, facilitating an event for Taiwanese opera star Wei Haimin, the adaptive purpose of self-defeating behavior, not having a palate for what is emotionally healthy, and more of the stuff you're used to.

Angels in America

A nearly-aborted entry in which I recount another exceptional experience from my time as a child actor, almost end the episode, but ultimately divert course into a conversation about Tony Kushner's "Angels in America" and disclose my status as a possible prophet of God.

Richie Big Bucks

A bit lip, a stye, and four wisdom teeth needing to get pulled are jumping off points for stories about abusing the generosity of a friend's mother, being a child actor, and an evaluation of Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining."

Flaccid Phantoms

Finally giving some attention to my thesis, Baumann's "First Principles of Science," the creative and the receptive in Yijing and Timaeus, the merits of the new Netflix film "Fair Play," and reevaluating the economy of storytelling in Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey."