Popular Culture

4 August 2003


Everyone Hates Gigli
Disclaimer time: this is not a review of the film "Gigli," and the film "Gigli" has nothing to do with Italian tenor Beniamino Gigli. Instead, this is a review of the feeding frenzy that critics are having with what is a said to be a dreadful film (not having seen it, one hesitates to offer an opinion as to its merits or lack of same) that involves some of the most famous celebrities of the day. As the great Charles Chaplin noted, the people love to see the powerful brought low, and film critics are people -- sort of. For more, click here.

Ties Contribute to Glaucoma
Science has finally proved its value. A study published in the August issue of the British Journal of Ophthalmology showed a link between glaucoma and wearing neckties. Ties, of course, were invented by someone's mother in an attempt to make little boys presentable -- a task Sisyphus would understand. The evidence suggests that abolishing the things would be a healthy move. One always enjoys being proved right. Click here to read on.

Austrian Flies Across Channel without Aircraft
Felix Baumgartner entered the history books last week as the first man to fly across the English Channel without an airplane. Put that way, it was quite a feat, but in actuality, he sailed from Dover to Calais as he dropped by parachute from a plane. It is yet another rather silly attempt at being the first that does show a certain charming aspect of the human species that often gets lost in its rather mundane nastiness. Click here to read more.