May 14th, 2025 // Vol. XXI // Hello Again

Hey-o! That was a long break, huh? I thought we might’ve been able to get the first East Coast edition of TDB off, but I was too busy eating ice cream on the Cape to write. Whoops. Anyways, Happy:

• National Decency Day (We could all use to treat each other with a little more decency, that’s for sure)

• National Underground America Day (I don’t really know what this means, but I’m choosing to believe that it’s Minecraft Movie propaganda)

• National Buttermilk Biscuit Day (I’ve been craving a biscuit for a while, and this has only made it worse)

• National Dance Like A Chicken Day (Not to brag, but I got really good at the Chicken Dance summer 2023 while working for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks. The footage is out there somewhere)

There was a lot of news we missed, so let’s stop wasting time and have a day unpacking it all instead:

Beehiiv’s dumbass won’t let me insert the graphic for some reason, so we going analog today.

• From last week: The smoke was white! Pope Bob has emerged! Robert Francis Prevost, from CHICAGO, has been elected as the 267th Pope, taking the name of Leo XIV. He is the first pope from North America and the United States. And he’s from CHICAGO. If this isn’t a sign that the Bears are winning the Super Bowl, I don’t know what is. (I would say a Cubs World Series, but some misinformation about his baseball allegiances might’ve screwed my Northsiders).

• Qatar has offered a $400 million “palace in the sky” as a gift to Trump as a replacement for the current Air Force One. This has received much criticism, especially as reports suggest Trump plans to use said plane after his time in office. Some claim this amounts to a bribe, while others show concern for it as a national security risk.

• Trump is currently in the Middle East meeting with leaders from around the region. Topics discussed include new agreements and military ties with Saudi Arabia, Iran’s attempts to craft a nuclear bomb, and the lifting of sanctions under Syria. Some commend Trump’s work as a peacemaker in the region, while others criticize these talks as dealing with nations who have a history of sponsoring terrorism.

• Debates are arising in the House over potential cuts to Medicaid in the desired “big, beautiful bill,” keeping the status of that bill in question.

• The arrival of a number of South African Afrikaner refugees has begun to cause turmoil as The Episcopal Church says they will not assist in relocating them and others criticize their admittance over other refugees.

New Showings in:

What I Watched While Gone:

The Equalizer (2014)

Bad. Ass. That’s about all I have to say about this one.

Badass/5

Thunderbolts (2025)

This is the first Marvel feature I’ve watched in a while, which is a kinda crazy thing to say considering how locked in I was to the universe in high school. What a great choice to make my return to, though.

Florence Pugh stole the show and led the way through a high intensity, but surprisingly deep film. The ending was especially moving, and who knows, maybe some tears welled up. All in all, a strong sign for the future of the MCU. They better not fuck up Fantastic Four.

I definitely didn’t cry/5

Juno (2007)

This won an Oscar for Best Screenplay, which becomes abundantly clear after watching. A truly fantastic performance from Elliot Page combined with killer art direction and aesthetics to make a funny, yet heartfelt depiction of teen pregnancy.

Use A Condom/5

Nonnas (2025)

Predictable? Yes. Cute and heartwarming? Also yes. It just made me hungry for some Italian food more than anything else.

Sunday Gravy/5

Crazy Stupid Love (2011)

With Steve Carell set to be our commencement speaker, I figured I had to brush up on his filmography. This was a great one to check off. Laughed out loud the whole way through.

What A Twist/5

Pretty Woman (1990)

They don’t make rom-coms like this anymore. Sharp, witty, sexy, emotional. Another classic crossed off the list.

So Good I Almost Peed My Pants/5

Sinners (2025)

People usually don’t tell me to go see a movie; they usually just figure that I already have or will shortly. With Sinners, however, I had multiple friends implore me to go catch this one. After watching, I don’t understand why.

It was by no means a bad movie, but it also wasn’t a good one. It was too slow to start, which meant it was too rushed at the end. Too many winding storylines left a tangle of semi-convoluted endings, and it felt like they left a lot on the table. A horror aspect was played up by trailers, but I was left wanting in that category. And I don’t particularly like horror.

As for the music, what we got was good, but there could have been so, so, so much more. Another facet lost in the tangle.

Performances were fine too, but as a whole, there wasn’t much to write home about. Which is why I’m writing it here instead.

Why All The Hype/5

What’s your favorite genre of music?

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