Margaret had been awake for thirty-one hours when they finally told her it was time. She sat in the waiting room of the Synapse Institute with a cup of terrible coffee going cold in her hands, watching the second hand on the wall clock make its slow, indifferent circuits. Around her, the room hummed with … Continue reading The Last Version of You
Could Back to the Future’s Time Travel Actually Work?
Everyone knows the rules by now, even people who haven't watched the trilogy in years. You need a flux capacitor. You need 1.21 gigawatts of power. And you need to hit exactly 88 miles per hour at the moment it all comes together. Say those numbers out loud to almost anyone and they'll nod, maybe … Continue reading Could Back to the Future’s Time Travel Actually Work?
Question of the Week #498
Welcome back to another Question of the Week here at The Confusing Middle! As always, the questions come from Gregory Stock's The Book of Questions. Last week we spent some time imagining a world without the necessity of work, which turned out to be a surprisingly complicated place to visit. This week, Stock brings us … Continue reading Question of the Week #498
Why Final Fantasy Still Matters (Even If You’ve Never Played It)
I was ten years old when I picked up the original Final Fantasy for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was 1990, North America had just gotten its hands on the game, and I had absolutely no idea what I was getting into. I'd never played a Japanese role-playing game before. I didn't know what hit … Continue reading Why Final Fantasy Still Matters (Even If You’ve Never Played It)
More Than a Host: The Enduring Legacy of Alex Trebek
I've written before about my complicated relationship with Jeopardy! — how I dreaded it as a kid, how it became appointment television once I discovered I actually loved trivia, and how watching it with my dad became one of the great rituals of my adult life. But when I sit down and think honestly about … Continue reading More Than a Host: The Enduring Legacy of Alex Trebek
Jack Byrnes Broke Me: Why I’m Done with the Fockers
There are movies that you remember fondly precisely because you experienced them at the right time, in the right place, with the right mindset. Meet the Parents was that movie for me. When it hit theaters in October 2000, it felt like an instant classic — a comedy that was equally smart and broad, anchored … Continue reading Jack Byrnes Broke Me: Why I’m Done with the Fockers
Rewatching Smallville – Episode 108
Welcome back to Rewatching Smallville, my weekly dive into the iconic series that explores Clark Kent’s journey before becoming Superman. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to the show, you’re invited to join in each Tuesday as I revisit episodes and share my thoughts and observations. Be sure to share your own memories and … Continue reading Rewatching Smallville – Episode 108
Disney 26 – The Great Mouse Detective
The Great Mouse Detective 1986 Directed by John Musker, Ron Clements, Dave Michener, and Burny Mattinson Welcome back to Movie Monday. It's the first Monday of the month, which means we're taking our usual break from the cinematic bargain bin to spend some time with something I actually enjoy. And this month, we're staying in … Continue reading Disney 26 – The Great Mouse Detective
Stone Watch
The rain came down in cold, slanted sheets the night Mara Osei discovered the city's oldest secret. She was eleven, small for her age, and had no business being out after midnight. But her cat, Ptolemy, a patchy orange stray she'd rescued from behind the bodega on Alcott Street, had slipped through a torn window … Continue reading Stone Watch
Question of the Week #497
Welcome back to another Question of the Week here at The Confusing Middle! As always, the questions come from Gregory Stock's The Book of Questions. Last week we were somewhere pretty dark, so this week Stock pivots in a different direction entirely. He's not asking us to confront our mortality or wrestle with the justice … Continue reading Question of the Week #497
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