Shows
Structured RamblingDark Tower Double Aside: Winds and HeartsPaul takes on two more of the side novels from Stephen King's Dark Tower series: The Wind Through the Keyhole and Hearts in Atlantis. 2025-05-0131 minStructured RamblingAlice in Chains: For Layne FriendshipPaul talks this episode about the tragic story of Alice in Chains singer Layne Staley, and the attempts of his friends in music to save him. Alice in Chains, "Grind," Alice in Chains. Seattle, Columbia, 1995. Alice in Chains, "I Stay Away," Jar of Flies. Seattle, Columbia, 1994. Alice in Chains, "Man In The Box," Facelift. Seattle, Columbia, 1990. Alice in Chains, "Nutshell," Jar of Flies. Seattle, Columbia, 1994. Alice in Chains, "Over Now," Unplugged. Seattle, Columbia, 1996. Alice in Chains, "Them Bones," Dirt. Seattle, Columbia, 1993. Alice in Chai...2025-04-1542 minStructured RamblingArthur, Once, Future, KingPaul talks about the endearing appeal of King Arthur of Camelot2025-03-1527 minStructured RamblingMaybe It's an Offer You Should Refuse? Gangster ShowsPaul discusses the unending appeal of the Gangster movie or tv show. Bad folks2025-02-1517 minStructured RamblingStephen King's The Stand (The Dark Tower Series Aside Part 1)Paul tackles what is considered by many Stephen King's masterpiece.King, Stephen. The Stand: The Complete & Uncut Edition. New York, Doubleday, 1990. 2024-12-0139 minStructured RamblingProfane Decency: Ted LassoPaul discusses the most remarkable series of the decade: Ted Lasso.2024-11-1525 minStructured RamblingThat Thing Isn't IT: John Carpenter's The Thing (1982)Paul talks about the horrow cult classic, The Thing2024-10-1520 minStructured RamblingThe 5Ws of Tom BombadilPaul discusses one of the most bizarre but beloved characters in all of Tolkien.Ryelund, Morten. "Tom Bombadil's Song (I)", The Fellowship of the Ring. CDklassic, 2000. Tolkien, Christopher. The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien. London, Houghton Mifflin, 2000.Tolkien, J.R.R. The Fellowship of the Ring. London, HarperCollins, 2010.2024-10-0136 minStructured RamblingAncient Applicability: Our Man MarcusPaul discusses why Emperor Marcus Aurelius's Meditations remains a worthwhile read almost two millennia after it was written. Aurelius, Marcus. Meditations. (Translated by Gregory Hays). New York, Modern Library, 2002. 2024-09-1512 minStructured RamblingDirty Rotten Superheroes: The BoysPaul looks at Amazon's nasty and fun superhero satire, The Boys. 2024-09-1512 minStructured RamblingStephen King's The Dark Tower Series: 4. The Wizard and GlassPaul Continues his journey through King's fantasy opus2024-09-1425 minStructured RamblingStephen King's The Dark Tower Series: 3. The Waste LandsPaul picks up on his continuing study of Stephen King's fantasy opus. 2024-09-0117 minStructured RamblingI Hate Deadpool, #notmyWolverine, but a Fun MoviePaul kicks the hornet's nest and talks the good and considerable bad of Deadpool & Wolverine.For a much nicer review, check out The Good Enough Gaming Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/good-enough-gaming-pod/id1553128355?i=10006639267732024-08-0931 minStructured RamblingTrump, Terrorism, and Eight TextsPaul discusses the recent near-assissnation of Donald Trump but keeps that rambling structured. Adler, Mortimer. Aristotle for Everybody. New York, Macmillan, 1978. 2024-07-1831 minStructured Rambling"Trickling into the Stream"Paul considers what generational technology usage and the advent of AI writing will do to reading, thinking, and writing. 2024-06-1516 minStructured RamblingRewatch: Game of ThronesPaul talks Game of Thrones . 2024-06-0137 minStructured RamblingA Brief Discussion on the MentorPaul chats about the mentor character, so significant to the Hero's Journey. 2024-05-1515 minStructured RamblingVilleneuve In Review: Dune 2Paul talks about the second take on his favourite book. 2024-05-0115 minStructured RamblingThe Better Story: Life of Pi and Big FishInspired by one of his teaching lessons, Paul discusses the concept of "the better story" which forms a connection between Yann Martel's 2001 novel Life of Pi and Tim Burton's 2004 film, Big Fish.Burton, Tim. Big Fish. United States, Sony Pictures, 2003. Martel, Yann. Life of Pi. Toronto, Vintage, 2001.2024-03-0325 minStructured RamblingStephen King's The Dark Tower Series: 2. The Drawing of the Three. Best book in the series? Best SK book EVER?Paul continues his exploration of the Dark Tower series with this Master's Class of character building. King, Stephen. The Drawing of the Three. New York, Plume, 2003. 2024-02-1522 minStructured RamblingStephen King's The Dark Tower Series: 1.The Gunslinger. Mostly just get through it.Paul starts an extended re-read and analysis of Stephen King's Dark Tower series. 2024-02-1516 minStructured RamblingDys or Dat-Topia? (Brave New World Vs. 1984)Paul compares the futuristic worlds presented in two classic novels of 20th century speculative fiction: Brave New World and Nineteen Eighty-Four.Huxley, Aldous. Brace New World. Toronto, Vintage, 2007.Orwell, George, Nineteen Eighty-Four. Toronto, Signet, 1977. 2024-02-0140 minStructured RamblingSnorri SturlasonPaul gushes about his favourite Viking-Age historian and poet. 2024-01-1517 minStructured RamblingThe Texts of '23Paul waxes retrospective.https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/8864790044362597696/80648453591255478962024-01-0310 minStructured RamblingThe False Myth of the American WesternPaul discusses that most derivative, forced, and American of genres: The Western 2023-12-0123 minStructured RamblingThe Beauty of the Short StoryPaul talks about this lovely and underappreciated form of text. 2023-11-0116 minStructured RamblingOn Re-Reading BooksPaul talks about the revelations that can happen on second and subsequent of books. 2023-10-0116 minStructured RamblingVinland and the Norse Sagas (for Tim and Allie)Paul explores the sketchy history of the Norse landings in Newfoundland, after fulfilling a lifelong dream of visiting the site at L'anse aux Meadows last month.This episode is dedicated to Tim and Allie. 2023-08-1529 minStructured RamblingThe Barbarity of Banning BooksPaul weighs in on literary fasciscm. Thomposon, Hunter S. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. New York, Random House, 1971. 2023-08-0132 minStructured RamblingThe Love of the StagePaul talks about his love for the often-misunderstood and mis-appreciated genre of theatre. 2023-06-1515 minStructured RamblingSpoiler: The King ReturnsAfter far too long of promising, Paul discusses the third volume of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.Tolkien, J.R.R. The Return of the King. London, Harper Collins, 2010. 2023-06-0128 minStructured RamblingStoicism in the Modern WorldIt's amazing how Ancient Greek philosphy is still so applicable to us today, and Paul argues that none is MORE applicable still than stoicism. But, you have to jettison the weaknesses. Aurelius, Marcus. Meditations. New York, Pengion, 2006. Herbert, Frank. Dune. New York, Chilton, 1965. 2023-05-1522 minStructured RamblingMETALLI-f*#$ing-CAIn today's episode, Paul talks about Metallica, a band he's never going to be too proud to like, although his favourite era is often the band's most-reviled. 2023-05-0118 minStructured RamblingBest-PERIOD-Show-PERIOD-Ever-PERIOD: The Newsroom by Aaron Sorkin (for J. on her birthday)Paul analyzes the exceptional three seasons of The Newsroom for his favourite person. Newman, Thomas, "The Newsroom Main Theme," Apple Music. 2023-04-2039 minStructured RamblingOn Revisiting the Terminator and T2: Judgement DayPaul considers the first (and as far as he's concerned ONLY) two Terminator films having watched them with new viewers. 2023-04-1621 minStructured RamblingThe Water Bond Between Gollum and Frodo (Special Episode)This is the audio of a presentation Paul recently gave at Signum University's Sunshine Moot 2023 about characters from J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-EarthYoutube Video: https://youtu.be/LUMFo-XoLHA Works CitedCarpenter, Humprey ed. The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien. New York, Houghton Mifflin, 2000. Tolkien, J.R.R. The Fellowship of the Ring. London, Harper Collins, 2010.Tolkien, J.R.R. The Hobbit. London, Harper Collins, 2010.Tolkien, J.R.R. The Return of the King. London, Harper Collins, 2010.Tolkien, J...2023-03-1944 minStructured RamblingBeing in HamletWhat does Shakespeare really mean about "to be" and what does Hamlet learn about it, himself, and ALL OF THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE by the end of the most famous work in English?Bloom, Harold. Shakeseapre: Invention of the Human. Riverhead Books: New York, 1998.McCartney, Paul. "Let It Be." from Let It Be. Apple: London, 1970.Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Harcourt: Toronto, 2003. 2023-03-1544 minStructured RamblingComics Can't ChangeIn this epic walk through history and nostalgia of the superhero genre, Paul laments the fact that comic books are immune to any sort of real change, and that's a shame. 2023-03-011h 18Structured RamblingProphecies and Walkin' Trees: That time Shakespeare annoyed Tolkien.It's a little known fact that the Ents of Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings were actually inspired by the author's extreme dislike of a scene in Shakespeare's Macbeth. Paul talks the prophecies of Macbeth, their influence on LOTR, and Tolkien's brief use of prophecy himself.Carpenter, Humphrey, Ed. The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien. London: Houghton Mifflin, 2000.Polanski, Roman. Macbeth. UK/USA: Playboy Productions and and Caliban Films, 1971.Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. The Riverside Shakespeare. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1997. Tolkien, J. R. R. The Return of the King. London: Harper Col...2023-02-1536 minStructured RamblingQuentin and Tarantinoed by Quentin TarantinoIn this episode, Paul looks at the most Tarantino-style director of them all: Quentin Tarantino.Paul rates all of his movies from least best to best!2023-02-0158 minStructured RamblingPig Politicians: The Enduring Applicability of George Orwell's Animal FarmPaul looks at a specific allegorical novel that continues to have meaning. Orwell, George. Animal Farm. London: Martin Secker and Warburg, Ltd, 1945.2023-01-1518 minStructured RamblingThe Texts of '22Paul talks about the most significant books, films, shows, and albums he encountered in the year that was 2022.Here's a link to the whole list:https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/8864790044362597696/730392817943812402023-01-1019 minStructured RamblingNames Upon Names Upon Names: The Silmarillion by J. R. R. TolkienBy request, Paul talks about the Tolkien book that most people don't finish, which is funny because it's about 700 pages shorter than his best one. Tolkein, J.R.R. The Silmarillion. Christopher Tolkien, ed. Houghton Mifflin: London, 1977. 2022-12-1536 minStructured RamblingPrey Doesn't Suck and I'm SurprisedPaul discusses the 2022 film Prey, the umpteenth sequel to 1987's Predator, and the only one that's not bad, Trachtenburg, Dave. Prey. USA: 20th Century Studios, 2022. 2022-12-0118 minStructured RamblingAlexander the Far Side AllusionPaul discusses the life and times of that one and only Warrior Philosopher King Alexander the Great, and we consider how having a good edcation can propel you. Savill, Agnes. Alexander the Great and His Times. London: Rockliffe, 1956. 2022-11-1516 minStructured RamblingThe Play's the Thing: Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are DeadHamlet is much bigger and better than it was supposed to be, so it's only natural that its existential death satire (if that's a genre) is too. Paul talks Tom Stoppard's brilliant 1966 play Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead.Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Toronto: Thompson and Nelson, 2003.Stoppard, Tom. Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead. New York: Grove Press, 1967. 2022-11-0152 minStructured RamblingRings of Power review with Special Guests Fynn and CoenPaul is joined by returning guests Fynn and Coen to discuss the Rings of Power TV series. McKay, Patrick and J. D. Payne. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. NZ and UK: Amazon Studios and New Line Cinema, 2022. 2022-10-2327 minStructured RamblingThe Death of CinemaYou don't need to ever go to a movie theatre again. Paul's suggestion: don't!2022-10-1520 minStructured RamblingUtterly Fantastic FantasyPaul talks about speculative fiction, and how some of its best writers proved that their escapism is more real than many of the best writing reality. Apologies to Cormac McCarthy.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cormac_McCarthyShippey, Tom. J. R. R. Tolkien: Author of the Century. London: HarperCollins, 2001.2022-10-0122 minStructured RamblingWhen the West(World) Was WildPaul talks about what was once a very fine show: HBO's Westworld. 2022-09-1522 minStructured RamblingAsatru Story, Bro, I SwearPaul discusses the reinterest in Norse Faith around the world, and how--what a shock!--it has all the same issues as every other religion out there. McIntosh, Christopher. Beyond the North Wind. Newburyport: Weiser. 2019.Sturlusson, Snorri. The Poetic Edda. 2022-09-0239 minStructured RamblingRings of Power, Pre: YOU NERDS DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY YOU'RE MAD YET!Paul discusses the complex source of The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power in anticipation of the forthcoming Amazon series.Tolkien, J. R. R. (1977), Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, Boston: Houghton Mifflin,2022-08-1522 minStructured RamblingA Literary Man's Guide to Failing Women (Or, Feminism: Let's Do Better, Boys)Paul talks about being a feminist and how it's impossible to be a good one if you have a Y chromosome. Also, books.Brust, Stephen. Jhereg. Ace: USA, 1983.Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. The Riverside Shakespeare. Houghton Mufflin: New York, 1996. King Lear. The Riverside Shakespeare. Houghton Mufflin: New York, 1996. Macbeth. The Riverside Shakespeare. Houghton Mufflin: New York, 1996. Merchant of Venice. The Riverside Shakespeare. Houghton Mufflin: New York, 1996. Perez, Caroline Criado. Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed For Men. Abrams: New York, 20192022-08-0832 minStructured RamblingREPOST: Road Trips to Nowhere with Jack KeroaucThe audio was wrong on the first one. Use this one!Hey, man, Paul's gonna look at, like, the book that kicked off the whole Beat Generation groove and made Jim Morrisson realize that, like, any cat can spout nonsense and call it poetry. Dig it!Kerouac, Jack. On the Road. Viking: New York, 1957. 2022-07-1522 minStructured RamblingThe Northman by Robert Eggers: Stupid Title, Good Film, Fair MoviePaul reviews a movie he really wanted to see: The Northman! Can it possibly live up to the hype?Eggers, Robert. The Northman. USA: Universal, 20222022-06-1838 minStructured RamblingWe Need Us Some AtticusIn a world divided, shocked by murdered black people and murdered elementary students, Paul implores us to see the message from the greatest unifier in all of literature: Atticus Finch.Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. New York: Hatchett, 1960. 2022-06-0221 minStructured RamblingEven For Post-Apocalyptic Fiction, The Road is a Bit of a DownerPaul talks Cormac McCarthy's Pulitzer Prize winner The Road, and how this grim, horrifying book still has a touch of love and hope. McCarthy, Cormac. The Road. New York, Vintage: 2006. 2022-05-0129 minStructured RamblingCompromising Canada: The History and Controversy of the Maple Leaf FlagPaul discusses the history of the adoption of the Maple Leaf, its history and the replacement of the Red Ensign, and why he's flying the latter in his yard these days. 2022-04-0122 minStructured RamblingThe War of Art, Or, War + Art = WartInspired by current events, Paul wonders if the writers who knew war really needed war to create. He asks the age-old question: "War--unh--good God, y'all--what is it good for?" Spoiler: the answer is "Absolutely nuthin'!"Lennon, John and Yoko Ono. "Give Peace a Chance." Give Peace a Chance/Remember Love Single. Apple: UK, 1969. Starr, Edwin. "War." from War & Peace. Motown: USA, 1970. 2022-03-1519 minStructured RamblingWhat if We Don't Have a Word for Dystopia? Language and Ideas in George Orwell's 1984Paul cracks open just how horrifying the abuse of English is in that double plus good dystopian novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell.Orwell, George. 1984. Toronto: Signet Classics, 1977.Rage Against the Machine. "Testify." The Battle of Los Angeles. USA: Epic, 1999. 2022-03-0130 minStructured RamblingSmall Screen SuperheroingPaul talks about some of his favourite recent live-action superhero shows, including the Netflix Defenders, the Disney+ shows, and HBO Max's Titans. 2022-02-0148 minStructured RamblingUnnatural Nature in Timothy Findley's The WarsPaul picks apart the abuse of the elements in this 1977 Governor General Award Winner. Findley, Timothy. The Wars. Toronto: Penguin, 1977. 2022-01-1533 minStructured RamblingThe Texts of '21: A Year in ReviewThe first episode of 2022 has been--like everything these days--delayed due to COVID. Paul talks about his favourite films, TV shows, albums, and--of course!--books of 2021. Find the entire list here:https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/8864790044362597696/8987949280962781042022-01-1034 minStructured RamblingTrampling Out the Vintage: John Steinbeck's The Grapes of WrathPaul talks about a perfect novel, a work of art, and a book that shows us through its folksy meanderings and mountains of injustice what people really are, and what they really should be.Springsteen, Bruce. "The Ghost of Tom Joad," from The Ghost of Tom Joad. USA: Columbia, 1995. Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin, 2006. 2021-12-0245 minStructured RamblingThe Beast In Me: Primal Roots of Modern FearsIn a comedown from the Hallowe'en season, Paul explores the roots of great Victorian horror and its ability to play upon our most basic fears despite all of our modern comforts. This rambling episode sees references to Dracula by Bram Stoker, The Wolfman (2010) by Joe Johnston, Dr, Jekyl and Mr. Hyde and The Inivisible Man. 2021-11-1624 minStructured RamblingDune is Short and Sideways for "Denis Villeneuve." This is a movie review.Paul's favourite novel EVER is Frank Herbert's 1965 science-fiction masterwork, Dune. Visionary Canuck Denis Villeneuve adapted about the first half of the book into a blockbuster. Paul saw it. Paul talks about it. Villeneuve, Denis. Dune. Legendary Pictures: USA, 2021. 2021-11-0129 minStructured RamblingMichael Crichton Tries Eating the Dead (and an Unlucky Warrior)Paul looks at the under-appreciated but undefinable historical Viking fiction novel Eaters of the Dead which was written as an adaptation of Beowulf. Paul also briefly discusses the pretty darn good film adaptation with the far superior title: The 13th Warrior. Crichton, Michael. Eaters of the Dead. New York: Ballantine, 1992. McTiernan, John. The 13th Warrior. USA: Touchstone Pictures, 1999. 2021-10-1931 minStructured RamblingTrue Detective: True? Nah. Detecting? Eventually. Good TV? Ya-yaaaass!Paul looks at the first three seasons of the fine HBO anthology series True Detective, created by by Nic Pizzolatto. S'a good show. 2021-10-0326 minStructured RamblingColonialism in LiteratureIn honour of Sept 30's National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, Paul takes a brief look at some texts related to this topic, and the bad Westerners have done reflected in literature.Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness & Tales of Unrest. London: Arcturus, 2010.Coppola, Francis Ford. Apocalypse Now. USA: United Artists, 1979. 2021-09-1529 minStructured RamblingOyster Mucus Ball Causes Ruckus: Steinbeck's The PearlWaxing nostalgic about Grade 9 and Mr. Ed Maloney, Paul analyzes John Steinbeck's masterful little novella, The Pearl. Steinbeck, John. The Pearl . Toronto, Bantam, 1986. 2021-09-0132 minStructured RamblingThe One About Stephen KingPaul talks about one of the greatest writers in the world, pondering why someone so talented, prolific and diverse still can't shake being viewed as a genre writer. Paul breaks down several of his favourite King books, with promises to return to this great man's work in future podcasts. King, Stephen. 11/22/63. Scribner, 2011, USA. ""The Dark Tower. Grant Books, 2004, New York. ""The Eyes of the Dragon. Viking, 1984, USA. ""Misery. Signet, 1988, Scarborough. ""On Writing. Scribner, 1999, New York. ""The Stand. Doubleday, 1990, New YorkPetty, Tom. "It's Good to Be King," Wildflowers, Warner Brothers, 1994, USA.Presley, Elvis...2021-08-1543 minStructured RamblingA Book Nearly as Long as Its Title: Edward Gibbon's The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman EmpireHow many times can Paul say "The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" in a single podcast? Lots! But, strangely, fewer times than he references that "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)." The Four Lads. "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)." Canada: Columbia, 1953. Gibbon, Edward. The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. London: Strahan & Cadell, 1777. They Might Be Giants. "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" from Flood. USA: Elektra, 1990. 2021-08-0129 minStructured RamblingSummer Bonus! (Part 2 of 4): July-rusalem (Part 2 of 2)Paul used to spend three weeks in July in the town of Drumheller teaching theatre and that always made him nostalgic for Jerusalem, a city he's never been to.Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. "Hava Nagilia (Christmas Arrangement)" from Ruin Jonny's Bar Mitzvah. USA: Fat Wreck Chords, 2004. Scott, Ridley. Kingdom of Heaven. USA and UK: 20th Century Fox, 2005.2021-07-2823 minStructured RamblingSummer Bonus! (Part 1 of 4) July-rusalem (Part 1 of 2)SPECIAL SUMMER BONUS!Paul discusses Judaism in literature, specifically three texts--one of which is the Old Testament. So there's that. Ambrose and His Orchestra, "A Selection of Hebrew Dances," from 100 Traditional Yiddish, Hebrew, & Jewish Folk Classics. Worldwide, 2010. The bible.Jacobs, A.J. The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to follow the Bible as Literally as Possible. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2007.Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. "Hava Nagila," from RuinJonny's Bar Mitzvah. Fat Wreck Chords, 2004. Michener, James A. The Source. New York: Random House, 1965. 2021-07-2527 minStructured RamblingState of the Podcast and, Briefly, of the Constitutional MonarchyOn this 2021 Canada Day, Paul updates and celebrates the state of his podcast and updates, celebrates, and laments the state of his nation.The Arrogant Worms. "We Are the Beaver." Idiot Road. Canada: Arrogant Worms Records, 2001.Big Sugar. "O Canada." Brothers and Sisters, Are You Ready? Canada: Universal, 2001. 2021-07-0135 minStructured RamblingOn Gutting a Worm: The Saga of the VolsungsPaul tackles the granddaddy of Norse Sagas with the story of Sigurd the Dragon-slayer, role of Odin and the lovely Brunhild; Attila the Hun drops in, and there's also the discussion of this saga's adaptation by Richard Wagner, and it's lamentable appropriation by the Nazis. Byock, Jesse L. (Translator). The Saga of the Volsungs. Berkley: U. Of California Press, 1990.Jones, Chuck. What's Opera, Doc? USA: Warner Bros. Cartoons, 1957.Tarantino, Quentin. Django Unchained. USA: Columbia Pictures, 2012.Wagner, Richard. Die Walkure. 1870.2021-06-1647 minStructured RamblingInto the Snyder-verseThere's been a lot of hullabaloo and even a fair amount of ballyhoo about this Snyder Cut JLA movie shenanigan. It was mostly a McGuffin, I figure. But why, why is it so hard to make this thing better? Because at it's heart, the Snyder-verse is a flawed creation. Paul discusses the Man of Steele, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (a movie that's actually worse than its horrid title), the Whedon Justice League, and the four hour Snyder (not so) CutSnyder, Zack. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Warner Bros, 2016Snyder, Z...2021-05-0156 minStructured RamblingThe Darkening of The Dark KnightBatman is the most popular super hero in existence, but his depiction as the grim, humourless Dark Knight hasn't been the whole story of his 82-year history. In this episode, Paul explores the critical period from 1986-1989 that completely redefined the character through four texts.Miller, Frank. The Dark Knight Returns. DC Comics: New York, 1986. Moore, Alan and Brian Bolland. Batman: The Killing Joke. DC Comics: New York, 1988. Morrison, Grant and Dave McKean. Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on a Serious Earth. DC Comics: New York, 1989. Starlin, Jim and Jim Aparo. B...2021-04-1531 minStructured RamblingThe Writer as HeroIn films and novels, writers often write the hero as someone like themselves. In this Rambling episode, Paul looks at a few writers who are heroes. Sometimes they're the Hemingway type--an action hero with a typewriter, but usually they're just a regular person caught up in events. 2021-03-1524 minStructured RamblingBeowulf: That Disarming Poem With GrendelViking Stuff! (well, Anglo-Saxon stuff)The starting place of English literature. An epic poem difficult to translate and even harder to adapt.Paul Talks Beowulf. The poem, it's themes, its characters and monsters, its influence. As well, Paul discusses some noteworthy (not always good!) film and novel versions. Donaldson, E. Talbot. Beowulf: A New Prose Translation. New York: W. W. Norton and Company, 1966.Heaney, Seamus. Beowulf. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2000.Tolkien, J.R.R. Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary. London, Harper Collins, 2014.2021-03-0158 minStructured RamblingI Liked the War Better: War and Peace by Leo TolstoyPaul freakin' finished War and Peace!2021-02-1530 minStructured RamblingLight and Dark in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird(It's a happy coincidence that this episode is being released on MLK Jr. Day in the US!)To Kill a Mockingbird is Harper Lee's 1960 masterpiece and has remained noteworthy and controversial for its entire history. It's never been out of print, is taught in schools across North America, and in Paul's opinion is one of the books everyone must read.Its heroes and villains are simple to see and understand, its themes clear. And yet, because it is told from the point of view of Scout Finch, a young girl, there is still so much...2021-01-1936 minStructured Rambling2020 Books and AlbumsPaul talks about some of his favourite reads of the past year, as well as some of the most significant albums he heard. A walk through a troubling year with a back and forth between books and music.You can view the full Booklist here: https://vikingpaul.blogspot.com/2021/01/booklist-2020.html2021-01-061h 20Structured RamblingSCIENCE! Fiction! Movies.Paul discusses four (+ 1 bonus) of the most successful pure science fiction films of the past decade and what each of them sprang from and means.Gravity by Alfonso CuaronInterstellar by Chirstopher NolanArrival by Denis VilleneuveAd Astra by James Gray(and special bonus The Midnight Sky by George Clooney)2021-01-011h 01Structured RamblingThe Bible. Because, Why Not?Not exactly as ambitious as it sounds, but Paul talks about the importance of the bible generally as a text, and how it's often hard for non-believers to get around the whole matter of faith thing. Discussion about the contradictory interpretation of both Testaments together occurs as well. The inspiration for this comes in the form of a reference Paul makes to the book The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs, recommended by Paul's good friend Carley. Thanks Carley.Jacobs, A.J. The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow th...2020-12-1924 minStructured RamblingThe Philosophy of All Quiet on the Western FrontIn honour of Remembrance Day, Paul looks at some of the philosophical passages in the great World War 1 novel All Quiet on the Western Front by Remarque.Remarque, Erich Marie. All Quiet on the Western Front. Toronto: Balantine Books, 1982"In Flanders Fields" by John McCrae, read by Leonard Cohen. Courtesy Legion Magazine's YouTube channel. 2020-11-1142 minStructured RamblingThe Issue of Faith: Depicting Religion in Secular FictionPaul--an agnostic at best--talks the importance of writing the faithful honestly and credibly in fiction, especially in a world that looks down upon faith. 2020-10-1819 minStructured RamblingI, Claudius by Robert GravesPaul's first true step into the deep and muddy pool of historical fiction. He reads Robert Grave's masterpiece I, Claudius, a book about those crazy Roman emperors and the women who killed them, plus the little boys who killed them. Depravity! Politics! Statecraft! And asides to talk about possessive apostrophe usage!2020-10-0119 minStructured RamblingIs Reading Listening?Paul talks audiobooks. And why Moby Dick sucks. 2020-09-2814 minStructured RamblingWhy Shakespeare?Why do we read Shakespeare? Why does a poet and dramatist from London 400 years ago still play such and important part in our life? Answer: because we have to have the best.Bloom, Harold. Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human. New York: Riverhead Books, 1999.Branagh, Kenneth. Hamlet. USA/UK: Columbia Pictures, 1996McTiernan, John. Last Action Hero. USA: Columbia Pictures, 1993.Shakespears Sister. "Stay." Hormonally Yours. London: London Records, 1992. 2020-09-0119 minStructured RamblingCan the Hero Go Home Again? (Yes, but . . . )Paul discusses what IS home and how characters can go home again, in a sense."Hell Broke Luce" by Tom Waits"The Hero with a Thousand Faces" by Joseph Campbell (incorrectly referred to as "The Hero's Journey" in the podcast but Paul is too lazy to fix it)"Home For a Rest" by Spirit of the West2020-08-0124 minStructured RamblingBack Again! (but with some There): J.R.R. Tolkien's The HobbitDelving into one of Paul's favorite earths: Middle!Texts:The Hobbit by J.R.R. TolkienExploring J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit by Corey OlsenThe Annotated Hobbit by Douglas A. Anderson. 2020-07-1544 minStructured RamblingHow They Broke Star WarsPaul discusses what's great about Star Wars and where it all went wrong. (HINT: It's the mouse's fault!)Star Wars Theme by John WilliamsImperial March by John Williams2020-06-0130 minStructured RamblingHow to Read a Book Via The Great Gatsby Via Bauer Via My Opinion!There are different ways to read a book, but to truly analyze a text, you need to have an approach.Paul analyzes The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald using the three levels of inquiry from The Well-Educated Mind by Susan Wise Bauer. This is a twist on the agent Greek Trivium.How do we read, think, and talk about a book? Like this.Structured Rambling:Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/podcasts/920605/website?podcast_id=920605Instagram: structured_rambling_podcastFacebook: @structuredrambling2020-05-1544 minStructured RamblingThe Fiction of Non-FictionPaul discusses movies and books using the news to tell a story. The Post, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Citizen Kane--that's right, Citizen Fah-reakin' Kane--The Newsroom and more. 2020-05-0140 minStructured RamblingDune by Frank HerbertPaul talks about nothing less than his favourite novel of all time. 2020-04-1531 minStructured RamblingThou Shalt Not: Video Games, Vampires, and Zombies.Paul chats about creative ideas, and especially, the three most un-creative ideas in his infamous VVZ rule. Special pandemic episode!2020-04-1015 minStructured RamblingDouble the Homer, Double the FunIn an ambitious single-episode, Paul discusses both the Iliad and the Odyssey, focusing on the characters, the themes, why they're timeless and why we have to look at them as products of their times. As well, he expresses concerns over their modern over-internalizing in masculine circles. 2020-04-0159 minStructured RamblingMartin Scorsese Vs the Marvel UniverseLast November, famed director Martin Scorsese penned an article in the New York Times attacking the cinematic virtues of the MCU and similar franchises. In this episode, Paul attempts to defend the merits of the films, their source material, and touches on everything from comics to myth to Star Wars. 2020-03-1631 minStructured RamblingSeries Introduction and the The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret AtwoodIn the series opening, Paul discusses his intentions for the podcast and then proceeds to look at Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale in honour if International Women's Day. 2020-03-0945 min