James R.
@700sandwiches.bsky.social
You may once have known me as notthathelpful at Twitter. I'm here now, seemingly to stay. :-) I write about things at times, from LOTR https://sites.google.com/view/pandemiclotr to sandwiches https://700sandwiches.wordpress.com/
Pinned
James R.
@700sandwiches.bsky.social
· Nov 24
What is Film for the Holidays?
Welcome to the newest blog project by James Rosenzweig, Film for the Holidays, a holiday film retrospective that will post one new film each day between Thanksgiving and Christmas. In this post I&#…
filmfortheholidays.com
So, my latest blog project is coming up this holiday season. I'll share each post on Bluesky: if you want to avoid them, you can mute #FilmForTheHolidays which is the tag I'll consistently use. If you're curious about what I'm doing, I say more about it here. filmfortheholidays.com/2024/11/11/w...
The Jim Carrey version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas is not only better than the original Chuck Jones animated version, but it's specifically better as a moral fable. I say more on the blog (where I welcome friendly disagreement): filmfortheholidays.com/2025/12/22/h... #FilmForTheHolidays
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Often unfairly maligned, the 2000 film How the Grinch Stole Christmas rescues the original tale from its limited moral perspective, and (yes, with lots of Jim Carrey antics, too) tells a story abou…
filmfortheholidays.com
December 22, 2025 at 4:18 PM
The Jim Carrey version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas is not only better than the original Chuck Jones animated version, but it's specifically better as a moral fable. I say more on the blog (where I welcome friendly disagreement): filmfortheholidays.com/2025/12/22/h... #FilmForTheHolidays
Reposted by James R.
I have never, once in my career, heard of a news org responding to a decline-to-comment with, “Well, we’ll hold it until you do.”
The reason is obvious — it gives the subject of your story a pocket veto.
The reason is obvious — it gives the subject of your story a pocket veto.
December 22, 2025 at 2:48 AM
I have never, once in my career, heard of a news org responding to a decline-to-comment with, “Well, we’ll hold it until you do.”
The reason is obvious — it gives the subject of your story a pocket veto.
The reason is obvious — it gives the subject of your story a pocket veto.
Reposted by James R.
I do appreciate how each new Mr Beast thing becomes more dreamlike, as if it’s a profane parable whispered into your subconscious by a demon
In Mr Beast’s new video, a woman is alone for two weeks on a platform in the sky. and each day, a balloon is released at an inopportune moment for her. And if she fails to shoot the balloon with an arrow, they take a small portion of the platform that is her home
December 22, 2025 at 3:12 AM
I do appreciate how each new Mr Beast thing becomes more dreamlike, as if it’s a profane parable whispered into your subconscious by a demon
Reposted by James R.
When we say "no, everything hasn't been digitized," I need you to understand that we really mean is that virtually nothing has been digitized. This is because the realm of primary sources that historians use is incomprehensibly large.
Seems like it's worth posting this one again.
Why Do Historians Still Have To Go To Archives?
Why do historians go to archives? Hasn’t everything already been digitized?
contingentmagazine.org
December 22, 2025 at 1:40 AM
When we say "no, everything hasn't been digitized," I need you to understand that we really mean is that virtually nothing has been digitized. This is because the realm of primary sources that historians use is incomprehensibly large.
Reposted by James R.
Seems worth noting at this point that Weiss's internal critics at the Times were correct and her many apologists among elite pundits were wrong
December 22, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Seems worth noting at this point that Weiss's internal critics at the Times were correct and her many apologists among elite pundits were wrong
Reposted by James R.
the shitstorm that’s already brewing because of Bari’s decision to spike this story is going to end up being vastly more damaging to her and to the admin than allowing the story to air would have been
she’s an evil propagandist hack but she is also very bad at doing it in a way that isn’t hamfisted
she’s an evil propagandist hack but she is also very bad at doing it in a way that isn’t hamfisted
December 22, 2025 at 3:04 AM
the shitstorm that’s already brewing because of Bari’s decision to spike this story is going to end up being vastly more damaging to her and to the admin than allowing the story to air would have been
she’s an evil propagandist hack but she is also very bad at doing it in a way that isn’t hamfisted
she’s an evil propagandist hack but she is also very bad at doing it in a way that isn’t hamfisted
Reposted by James R.
CBS News now has to decide if it's a news organization or a White House propaganda instrument. If it is the former, Bari Weiss should lose her job over this decision, and CBS News staffers should go public and say she does not have their confidence. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/21/b...
‘60 Minutes’ Pulled a Segment. A Correspondent Calls It ‘Political.’
www.nytimes.com
December 22, 2025 at 3:13 AM
CBS News now has to decide if it's a news organization or a White House propaganda instrument. If it is the former, Bari Weiss should lose her job over this decision, and CBS News staffers should go public and say she does not have their confidence. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/21/b...
Reposted by James R.
AD-ROCK: Yo Ebenezer you gotta show re-
BEASTIES: MORSE
AD-ROCK: Redemption is not a mere matter of
Beasties: COURSE
MIKE D: We’ll show you Bob Cratchit’s not a lazy
BEASTIES: MOOCHER
MCA: We’re Christmas Past
MIKE D: Christmas Present
BEASTIES: AND CHRISTMAS FUTURE
BEASTIES: MORSE
AD-ROCK: Redemption is not a mere matter of
Beasties: COURSE
MIKE D: We’ll show you Bob Cratchit’s not a lazy
BEASTIES: MOOCHER
MCA: We’re Christmas Past
MIKE D: Christmas Present
BEASTIES: AND CHRISTMAS FUTURE
January 5, 2025 at 8:01 PM
AD-ROCK: Yo Ebenezer you gotta show re-
BEASTIES: MORSE
AD-ROCK: Redemption is not a mere matter of
Beasties: COURSE
MIKE D: We’ll show you Bob Cratchit’s not a lazy
BEASTIES: MOOCHER
MCA: We’re Christmas Past
MIKE D: Christmas Present
BEASTIES: AND CHRISTMAS FUTURE
BEASTIES: MORSE
AD-ROCK: Redemption is not a mere matter of
Beasties: COURSE
MIKE D: We’ll show you Bob Cratchit’s not a lazy
BEASTIES: MOOCHER
MCA: We’re Christmas Past
MIKE D: Christmas Present
BEASTIES: AND CHRISTMAS FUTURE
My mother's favorite Christmas Carol movie has always been Scrooge, starring Alastair Sim, but it wasn't until this revisit that I realized what made this version special. Sim understands Scrooge in a way that most actors don't. filmfortheholidays.com/2025/12/21/s... #FilmForTheHolidays
Scrooge (1951)
The last of this year’s Christmas Carol adaptations, the 1951 film Scrooge captures a powerful side of the original Dickens tale, as Alastair Sim in the title role taps into the kind of fear …
filmfortheholidays.com
December 21, 2025 at 3:39 PM
My mother's favorite Christmas Carol movie has always been Scrooge, starring Alastair Sim, but it wasn't until this revisit that I realized what made this version special. Sim understands Scrooge in a way that most actors don't. filmfortheholidays.com/2025/12/21/s... #FilmForTheHolidays
Reposted by James R.
lmao hahahahaha
December 21, 2025 at 4:47 AM
lmao hahahahaha
Reposted by James R.
“The Supreme Court decided not to have a Christmas party for 12 straight years because the justices couldn’t agree on whether to invite the Court’s Black employees” is about as tidy an encapsulation of the Supreme Court’s whole deal as I can think of
The Alarmingly Racist History of the Supreme Court’s Canceled 1947 Christmas Party
The Court held its first-ever office Christmas party in 1946. The following year, the clerks suggested inviting Black employees. It did not go over well.
ballsandstrikes.substack.com
December 20, 2025 at 9:06 PM
“The Supreme Court decided not to have a Christmas party for 12 straight years because the justices couldn’t agree on whether to invite the Court’s Black employees” is about as tidy an encapsulation of the Supreme Court’s whole deal as I can think of
Reposted by James R.
An NPR analysis of the Epstein files shows some documents, originally available on Friday, are no longer on the Department of Justice's "Epstein Library" website as the DOJ releases more files. n.pr/4pO8hXB
Available to download Friday, some Epstein files no longer there Saturday afternoon
An NPR analysis of the Epstein files shows some documents, originally available on Friday, are no longer on the Department of Justice's "Epstein Library" website as the DOJ releases more files.
n.pr
December 20, 2025 at 8:08 PM
An NPR analysis of the Epstein files shows some documents, originally available on Friday, are no longer on the Department of Justice's "Epstein Library" website as the DOJ releases more files. n.pr/4pO8hXB
Reposted by James R.
Honestly, I never thought I’d be able to put a face and a name to a feature in Word that I hate with all the fiber of my being.
December 20, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Honestly, I never thought I’d be able to put a face and a name to a feature in Word that I hate with all the fiber of my being.
Today's movie is like a campy, mean reunion episode of a reality TV series written by Shakespeare (or one of his better imitators). A medieval Xmas gathering by one of the most dysfunctional families of the era (which is saying something). filmfortheholidays.com/2025/12/20/t... #FilmForTheHolidays
The Lion in Winter (1968)
Brilliant acting and intelligent writing elevate what is otherwise a campy, vicious soap opera, as The Lion in Winter gives us the English royal family in 1183, gathered at Christmas to tangle with…
filmfortheholidays.com
December 20, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Today's movie is like a campy, mean reunion episode of a reality TV series written by Shakespeare (or one of his better imitators). A medieval Xmas gathering by one of the most dysfunctional families of the era (which is saying something). filmfortheholidays.com/2025/12/20/t... #FilmForTheHolidays
Reposted by James R.
The name "Popular Science" doesn't mean we shift our coverage depending on public opinion. It means we cover relevant subjects that are rigorously researched, reliable, and grounded in reality.
And trans lives are grounded in reality.
We see y'all. No matter what.
www.popsci.com/science/tran...
And trans lives are grounded in reality.
We see y'all. No matter what.
www.popsci.com/science/tran...
First-of-a-kind study shows encouraging data for trans kids who socially transition
Ninety-four percent of participants in a new study stood firm in their trans identity after five years, and "detransitioning" is rare.
www.popsci.com
December 18, 2025 at 5:16 PM
The name "Popular Science" doesn't mean we shift our coverage depending on public opinion. It means we cover relevant subjects that are rigorously researched, reliable, and grounded in reality.
And trans lives are grounded in reality.
We see y'all. No matter what.
www.popsci.com/science/tran...
And trans lives are grounded in reality.
We see y'all. No matter what.
www.popsci.com/science/tran...
Reposted by James R.
Marley was dead: to begin with.
Happy publishing anniversary to A Christmas Carol!
Happy publishing anniversary to A Christmas Carol!
Dreadful apparition, why do you trouble me?
[a holiday cerebration]
open.substack.com
December 19, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Marley was dead: to begin with.
Happy publishing anniversary to A Christmas Carol!
Happy publishing anniversary to A Christmas Carol!
Reposted by James R.
Telling my kids this is Jake Paul
Guy getting absolutely wrecked with a Twisted Tea after saying the n word set to Dave Matthews is my favorite in the genre
December 20, 2025 at 5:25 AM
Telling my kids this is Jake Paul
Reposted by James R.
This essay by the author of a recent well-reviewed book about Tolkien starts modestly and then stabs you with a Morgul-blade halfway through, where you are pinioned by a twist in the telling. You may never recover. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/o...
Opinion | Why I Keep Returning to Middle-Earth
www.nytimes.com
December 19, 2025 at 4:46 PM
This essay by the author of a recent well-reviewed book about Tolkien starts modestly and then stabs you with a Morgul-blade halfway through, where you are pinioned by a twist in the telling. You may never recover. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/o...
Reposted by James R.
"The understanding" is 20 U.S.C. 76i(a): "a building to be designated as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts". In other words, a law, not an understanding.
Wasting no time, the Trump administration begins adding his name to the Kennedy Center building, ignoring the understanding that it would require an act of Congress. www.nytimes.com/live/2025/12...
Trump Administration Live Updates: Kennedy Center Adds Trump’s Name to Facade
www.nytimes.com
December 19, 2025 at 5:38 PM
"The understanding" is 20 U.S.C. 76i(a): "a building to be designated as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts". In other words, a law, not an understanding.
Reposted by James R.
Yes, it’s illegal. Like changing it to Department of War, like ten thousand other things. Part of the Trump strategy is to break the law and convey “the rule of law is weak and feminine and laughable and should be overridden by Our Guy.” Trump is fundamentally anti-law.
/1
/1
NEWS: They're adding Trump's name to the Kennedy Center building right now. www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...
Kennedy Center adds Trump’s name to building
The signage change follows a vote by the board of trustees to rename the performing arts complex the Trump Kennedy Center.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 19, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Yes, it’s illegal. Like changing it to Department of War, like ten thousand other things. Part of the Trump strategy is to break the law and convey “the rule of law is weak and feminine and laughable and should be overridden by Our Guy.” Trump is fundamentally anti-law.
/1
/1
Reposted by James R.
There is a certain bleakness in finding hope where one expected certainty.
December 19, 2025 at 4:53 PM
There is a certain bleakness in finding hope where one expected certainty.
Last Christmas is not just a great holiday rom-com, but as I observe in today's review, part of the reason why has to do with a fundamental truth about what makes a romantic comedy worth watching (in my / Connie Willis's opinion). filmfortheholidays.com/2025/12/19/l... #FilmForTheHolidays
Last Christmas (2019)
Among the very best of the modern holiday rom-coms, Last Christmas sells us on the connection between Kate and Tom in large part because it’s not about falling in love as much as it is about …
filmfortheholidays.com
December 19, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Last Christmas is not just a great holiday rom-com, but as I observe in today's review, part of the reason why has to do with a fundamental truth about what makes a romantic comedy worth watching (in my / Connie Willis's opinion). filmfortheholidays.com/2025/12/19/l... #FilmForTheHolidays
Reposted by James R.
The self-congratulatory tone of this press conference is astonishing. Law enforcement misidentified the initial suspect—again—then allowed the actual perpetrator to be completely in the wind for 48 hours, during which time he went on to kill again
Officials say the suspected Brown University shooter was also responsible for the killing of an MIT professor at his Massachusetts home this week. Follow live updates: https://cnn.it/4s2xLSq
December 19, 2025 at 4:28 AM
The self-congratulatory tone of this press conference is astonishing. Law enforcement misidentified the initial suspect—again—then allowed the actual perpetrator to be completely in the wind for 48 hours, during which time he went on to kill again
Reposted by James R.
This is precisely how fascism works, by grabbing at and taking away a little more freedom whenever events lend themselves to it. Bit by bit you lose your rights, until you turn around and realize the road you're on has been long, and democracy is well behind you over the horizon.
The admin is wasting no crisis... Sec. Kristi Noem said she is suspending the diversity visa lottery program (DV-1) after the Brown University suspect entered the U.S. through it in 2017.
December 19, 2025 at 5:10 AM
This is precisely how fascism works, by grabbing at and taking away a little more freedom whenever events lend themselves to it. Bit by bit you lose your rights, until you turn around and realize the road you're on has been long, and democracy is well behind you over the horizon.
Reposted by James R.
When the NEA asked us to promise not to publish trans, nonbinary, or gender fluid authors, we told them to kick rocks. (Actually, formally, with a unanimous vote by the Board of Directors, we told them to kick rocks.) So the NEA rescinded our funding.
November 26, 2025 at 8:04 PM
When the NEA asked us to promise not to publish trans, nonbinary, or gender fluid authors, we told them to kick rocks. (Actually, formally, with a unanimous vote by the Board of Directors, we told them to kick rocks.) So the NEA rescinded our funding.