Each month, my brother & I do a TCM game, and I thought it'd be fun to try here. We pick the movie premiering that month that's most surprising it's premiering that month. The rules are it has to be pre-1980 & is judged based not on quality, but just shock it's never been on TCM.

Make sure to check this out, as we discuss two of the all-timer movie stars & the brilliant, complicated work they bring to The Children's Hour! I had a great time-you will too! 😊

And the Runner-Up Is@andtherunnerupis.bsky.social · last wk.

Listen to a preview of today's A Woman Robbed, breaking down Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine in The Children’s Hour! @tmroj.bsky.social joins me to review their performances and discuss why they weren't nominated. Full episode on Patreon! linktr.ee/andtherunnerupis

My thoughts on the passing of country music legend Dolly Parton: theworldofjot29.blogspot.com/2026/08/doll...

Dolly Parton (1946-2026)

I never know whether to call myself a "crier" or not when someone asks.  I think I cry relatively regularly, but not excessively.  What I am...

theworldofjot29.blogspot.com

My streak of voting for the loser in statewide DFL primaries continues. My streak of voting for the Democratic nominee regardless will continue in November.

Decision Desk HQ@decisiondeskhq.bsky.social · 3w ago

Decision Desk HQ projects Peggy Flanagan wins the MN US Senate Democratic Primary #DecisionMade: 11:20 PM EDT

Hank Green's recent episode regarding using AI, and putting in question aspects of his professional reputation, has been bizarre to watch since all audiences seem to be approaching it from so many angles. I try to make sense of it on the blog: theworldofjot29.blogspot.com/2026/08/rant...

Ranting On...Hank Green and the Complicated World of AI

I have made a concerted effort in the past year to genuinely reduce the amount of time I spend on my phone.  This has been a mixed bag.  Par...

theworldofjot29.blogspot.com

The clock to get Max Miller out of the Ohio House race keeps ticking down, and this is opening up one of the most inevitable (and fascinating) aspects of any true wave-the phenomenon of the one-term wonder: theworldofjot29.blogspot.com/2026/08/max-...

Max Miller and the House One-Term Wonder Phenomenon

Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) This past week, two House Republicans involved in massive political scandals have (thus far) seen very different outc...

theworldofjot29.blogspot.com

I find the Overton Window shifts in the Democratic Party, which will come to a head in the next few weeks in MI, WI, & MN to be fascinating, and it begs a question I would normally never ask my (very liberal) self: am I now a moderate?: theworldofjot29.blogspot.com/2026/08/am-i...

We are completing my 34th Oscar Viewing Project today on the blog, with Dances with Wolves, Ghost, Godfather III, Awakenings, & GoodFellas leading the pack as I select the winners in all of the narrative, feature-length Oscar categories: theworldofjot29.blogspot.com/2026/07/1990...

The Minnesota Senate primary took a truly ugly turn this weekend, one that will make it more challenging for either side to get the full support of the Democratic base behind them after August. My thoughts on this turn of events: theworldofjot29.blogspot.com/2026/07/minn...

I decided to do a spin on not just my Top 25 favorite TV series (making a new list of them), but also to rank my ten favorite episodes of each series, a fun task particularly for shows you don't always think of as having "great episodes). Take a look!: theworldofjot29.blogspot.com/2026/07/my-t...

My Top 25 Favorite Shows

Every few years, I make a point of updating my favorite Film, TV, and Song lists as a time capsule of how I felt at the time.  What stayed, ...

theworldofjot29.blogspot.com

Rob Sand coming for the best-looking Governor title. 💪👀💪👀

Rob Sand@robsandia.bsky.social · last mo.

42.5 Miles 1,407 Feet of Climb Successfully made it to Dyersville. Great to get out with so many great folks & enjoy NE Iowa.

Officially went to the polls. Don't forget to early vote Minnesota!

Troy Jackson appears to have secured the Dem nod in Maine, a victory for the Sanders' wing of the party as they make a big bet in a must-win seat for November. I take a look at 3 upcoming primaries that are also mods vs. the left (the headline of 2026): theworldofjot29.blogspot.com/2026/07/the-...

The Left Takes a Turn

Senate President Troy Jackson (D-ME) This past weekend, in Maine, it appears that the race to replace Graham Platner as the Democratic nomin...

theworldofjot29.blogspot.com

Lindsey Graham's unexpected death has opened up a host of questions about his legacy, and the living legacy of his now-Senator sister, who may soon be running for a full term. My thoughts here: theworldofjot29.blogspot.com/2026/07/lind...

Lindsey Graham's Complicated Legacy (and the Future of His Senate Seat)

Senators Darline and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) I've been so out-of-practice in writing political articles in recent memory that I have largely b...

theworldofjot29.blogspot.com

What do we feel like is an impressive "I've seen X of that star's movies?" metric. I hit my 30th Harrison Ford movie this month with this series, and it definitely feels like I've seen a lot of his movies (I know you might have seen more), but what is that number...15, 20, 25...when do you hit it?

John T@tmroj.bsky.social · 2mo ago

With July starting, we are going to start a six-month stretch of actors whose chief fame started with the peak of the action film era (the 1980's & 90's). We'll begin with Han Solo/Indiana Jones himself, Harrison Ford: theworldofjot29.blogspot.com/2026/07/satu...

Platner is the worst person I've seen the Democrats nominate for major office this century. That people found him inspiring will forever baffle me.

Taniel@taniel.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Axios is reporting that Platner has said he won't file paperwork to withdraw before Monday, which is the final day he can do so (and four days from now). www.axios.com/2026/07/09/g...

Anyone who wants to run has about 36 hours to go or they can sit this out. Jackson is going to quickly pile up support from the Bernie wing of the party, and will be hard to beat if you need time to think about running. If there's a lesson from Platner, it's run early.

Kyle Griffin@kylegriffin1.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Former Maine state Senate President Troy Jackson is the first Democrat to officially explore a run to replace Graham Platner. Jackson filed paperwork today to form an exploratory committee for the race.

My thoughts on the Platner news, his likely stepping aside in the Senate race, and what comes next in Maine: theworldofjot29.blogspot.com/2026/07/5-th...

5 Thoughts on the Graham Platner's Allegations

Well, I did not expect to get two political articles out in two days after a relatively long drought for them, but that's the way the politi...

theworldofjot29.blogspot.com

Mallory McMorrow's exit from the Michigan Senate race opens up a host of questions, not just about that race's primary, but also about the proxy battle it's serving for leading contenders in 2028: theworldofjot29.blogspot.com/2026/07/the-...

The Fallout of Mallory McMorrow's Exit

State Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-MI) Yesterday, State Sen. Mallory McMorrow suspended her campaign in the US Senate primary in Michigan.  This...

theworldofjot29.blogspot.com

I mean, given the opportunity, I think it'd probably be fun to have Adam Sandler officiate my wedding too.

Diana DeGette's loss this week is yet another in a string of successful challenges against longtime Democratic incumbents from the DSA. I talk about this, and the disconcerting way that these campaigns are being run here: theworldofjot29.blogspot.com/2026/07/dian...

Diana DeGette and the Rise of the DSA in 2026

Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) On Tuesday, Rep. Diana DeGette lost her primary bid for reelection, becoming already the fifth incumbent Democrati...

theworldofjot29.blogspot.com

If I was a Colorado voter, I'd go Weiser/Hickenlooper/DeGette/Rutinel.

Collins is polling better than she did against Gideon, who didn't even have an ounce of scandal, and Platner is spending WAY too much of his time attacking "establishment" Democrats, whom he'll need to universally support him in order to actually win. She's in the driver's seat.

Sahil Kapur@sahilkapur.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Maine Senate poll (NYT/Press Herald/Siena — likely voters) Platner 49% Collins 47% Generic ballot: 53% D, 43% R Platner favorables: 45/50 Collins favorables: 48/51 Trump approval: 39/60 www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Blyth's death means that Terry Moore becomes the earliest living chronological acting nominee and means only four AFI 100 Stars nominated actors (Claire Bloom, Margaret O'Brien, Rita Moreno, & Sophia Loren) are still with us.

Mark Harris@markharris.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Ann Blyth has died at 98. She received a Supporting Actress nomination 81 (!!) years ago for her completely delicious performance as Joan Crawford's wicked daughter Veda in Mildred Pierce. Man, does that performance hold up. Enjoy 3:00 of immorality and immortality. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs1J...

Hanging on my brand new porch (ignore the weeds...it's rained a lot recently).

I am not happy with what happened last night, but this is proof of how poor Harrison's leadership was. If you tell people "work within the system" and then they do, and they win-the voters endorsed this. Enough Dems voted for Chevalier for her to win, so clearly this message has followers.

Jaime Harrison@jaimeharrison.bsky.social · 2mo ago

I say this with no ill will or animosity: if you hate the Democratic Party, then please don’t run for our nomination. Don’t use our resources. Don’t rely on our volunteers. Don’t use our infrastructure. Don’t ask Democrats to invest their time, money, and energy in your campaign.

Maine Democrats may be having the most embarrassing cycle in recent memory for a state party that isn't Florida. Absolutely pathetic this is their congressional slate. Hannah Pingree is the saving grace, but now she's saddled with two giant anvils on her ticket.

The New York Times@nytimes.com · 3mo ago

State Auditor Matt Dunlap, a progressive Democrat, has won the Democratic primary in northern Maine’s battleground House district. Dunlap is set to face former Gov. Paul LePage, a Republican, in a competitive general election in November.

And now it's my turn! I take a look at the films of 1964, including the ones that Oscar didn't have time for, and pick who I would've nominated at the Academy Awards that year: theworldofjot29.blogspot.com/2026/06/my-1...

John T@tmroj.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Hooray! I have officially finished 33rd Oscar Viewing Project-all of the nominees across the categories (with me picking the winners), and this time we're doing 1964-a battle between Dr. Strangelove, My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins, Zorba the Greek, & Becket: theworldofjot29.blogspot.com/2026/04/1964...

The most insane thing about the framing of this from the media (and Platner's supporters) is that it makes it seem like this was a long time ago. Platner got married in 2023. The Barbie movie is older than his marriage! That's how recently he was cheating on his wife.

Eoin Higgins@eoinhiggins.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Latest Platner scandal involves sexting other women early in his marriage