Last Third Place Mall

The Last of the Third Places

Last week's popular post on the decline of the shopping mall drew robust comment about the societal consequences of losing that public forum. One key idea readers introduced to the discussion was the Third Place. Reader Sian writes: [T]he mall was the last Third Place. Previous and following generations definitely…
March 25, 202413 Comments
Perverse Generation

Faithless and Perverse Generation

American members of Generation Z face overlapping crises of identity, faith, and general happiness, if recent reports are to be believed. According to several high-profile surveys, young adults in America may be the most faithless and perverse generation yet. And they're suffering the mental and spiritual health consequences. Young people…
March 22, 202428 Comments
Retro Stream

Years Ago and in Another Country

A common saying has it that the past is another country. It's taken as a figure of speech, but pay a visit to almost any mid-American shopping mall these days, and the prevailing vibe resembles an archaeological site. What was the hub of American commerce in the previous era is…
March 21, 20247 Comments
Behind the Mask

Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon

From time to time, I open the curtain and give this blog's readers a sample of my premium material. Today’s review originally appeared as a Patreon and SubscribeStar exclusive. If you like it, please consider subscribing. Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon is a unique and entrancing exploration of…
March 20, 202411 Comments
The Mall

The Idea of a Mall

Yesterday a fascinating intergenerational conversation took place on X. And it put me in mind of a subject we haven't touched on in a while: The cultural impact of the mall - how it rose to dominance, and how it faded. While loving the idea of a mall is a…
March 19, 202428 Comments
Sistine Chapel Patronage

Neopatronage: Seek and You Will Find

Innovation often emerges from the collision of new ideas with established systems, leading to a disruptive reordering of the status quo. That popularly called "creative disruption," facilitated by platforms like Amazon, drove the rise of indie publishing. By democratizing access to the world's top book market, Amazon enabled indie authors…
March 18, 20246 Comments
Matt Walsh Parade

Walsh Tries to Jump the GamerGate Parade

The Grift Right's paymasters must be desperate to distract normies from some brewing enormity. Because they've got their controlled opposition mouthpieces out in force stirring up controversy. First it was Hollywood creature Ben Shapiro arguing for people to work till they drop dead. Now his Gen Y crony Matt Walsh…
March 15, 202422 Comments
Little Ben's Ponzi Scheme

Little Ben’s Ponzi Scheme

Daily Wire face man Ben Shapiro sparked controversy on Tuesday when he advocated raising the US retirement age and called retirement itself "a stupid idea," barring some kind of health issue. Here is the video wherein Shapiro made his pitch for working until death: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_ookaLoajk&t=1143s When challenged on his castigation…
March 14, 20249 Comments
Family Living

Pay a Living Wage: Challenge Impossible!

A reader writes: I read your latest post on usury and Catholic Social Teaching, and ended up in an argument with someone who claimed that it is impossible for every job to pay a Living Wage, and that the Catechism's words must therefore be interpreted as "everyone must have the…
March 13, 20247 Comments
Irish Anti-Family Referendum 1

Irish Anti-Family Referendum Defeated

A referendum that would have replaced the Irish constitution's recognition of the family's basis in marriage with accretions involving other "durable relationships" suffered overwhelming defeat on Saturday. The ballot count shows that the anti-family referendum was rejected by 67.7 percent of Irish voters. The overall Referendum Returning Officer Barry Ryan…
March 12, 20248 Comments