Bad Boys Do Surprisingly Good
I don’t envy the life of your average Hollywood studio executive. Oh, sure, I suppose the mansion in Malibu with a Lamborghini in the drive would be nice. Maybe that part. But when it comes to trying to figure out which movie properties from the past might still have traction? It’s like throwing a dart […]
Introducing The Plugged In Show
If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “I wonder if Plugged In is ever going to do a podcast, because it seems like they should,” well, the wait is over. I’m thrilled to announce that we have recently launched The Plugged In Show! Each week, members of the Plugged In team will be joined by author, […]
Musical Musings 2019: Adam Holz and Kristin Smith’s Year-End Pics
“Mawage. Mawage is wot bwings us togedder today.” Yes, yes, I know, I know. Those famous lines hail from the classic comedy Princess Bride. Nevertheless, they are what brings us “togedder” today, in a roundabout way, as we talk about the best music (both tracks and albums) of 2019. Why, you ask? Well, it turns […]
What Is a Dopamine Fast, Anyway?
One of the most interesting concepts in economics is the law of diminishing marginal returns. It says, basically, the more we consume of something, the less we enjoy it. Put simply, the second cup of coffee we have in the morning has less “marginal utility” than the first cup. The taste may be exactly the […]
Culture Clips: Little Mermaid Live … Sinks
Sad that you missed The Little Mermaid Live! on ABC last night? Yeah, well, you can save your tears. Even though nine million people tuned in to watch Ariel’s primetime return, many reviews were scathing—in part because only parts of it were actually live, interspersed with animated movie clips. Entertainment Weekly gave the show a […]
A Plugged In Conversation With Jessie Minassian
Being a tween or teen has probably never been an easy thing. But the pressures faced by adolescents today—especially girls—are amplified in many ways by technology and social media. Author, speaker and regular Focus on the Family Broadcast guest Jessie Minassian has thought a lot about these issues. Her website, Life, Love and God: Where […]
Culture Clips: Joker Edition
The fictional Arthur Fleck, better known as the Joker in his titular movie, would be pleased that his story has already stirred up so much controversy. And that before it has even hit theaters. Director and screenwriter Todd Phillips unleashes his vision of DC Comics signature super-villain in theaters this weekend. But Phillips’ Joker bears […]
Tech Tuesday: How Do Online Bible Apps Impact the Way Men Read Scripture?
How do you read the Bible? Once upon a time, there was only one answer to this straightforward question: You picked up a Bible—as in, the printed book—and read it. Simple. In the internet age, however, more and more people are using various online Bible-reading tools for their personal engagement with Scripture. And a new […]
Downton Abbey’s Triumphant Return
Brad Pitt, Sylvester Stallone and a PBS period-piece drama duked it out on the big screen this weekend. And the PBS adaptation won. Handily. Fans of PBS’s hit TV drama Downton Abbey are no doubt nodding knowingly. Even though the character-driven soap opera about the goings-on at a regal British estate wrapped up four years […]
Culture Clips: Rock’s Inescapable Decline
“Rock is dead!” That opinion has been bouncing around the culture practically since the rowdy genre was born. The Who actually had an unreleased album titled Rock Is Dead—Long Live Rock all the way back in 1972—just as the genre was really blossoming. I’m not going to suggest that rock is dead. Not literally, at […]