Culture on My Mind – Dragon Con Report 2025 #6: Trek Track

August 26, 2025August 25, 2025 Michael FalknerLeave a comment

Culture on My Mind
Dragon Con Report 2025 #6: Trek Track
August 26, 2025

One of the ways that I like to prep for Dragon Con is by listening to the Dragon Con Report podcast. Brought to you by the ESO Network, the podcast is a monthly discussion on all things Dragon Con that counts down to the big event over Labor Day weekend in Atlanta, Georgia.

The show is hosted by Michael Gordon, Jennifer Schleusner, and Channing Sherman, and it delivers news, notes, tips, and tricks for newbies and veterans alike. The Dragon Con Newbies community has a great relationship with the show and the network.

In the sixth episode for 2025, the team beams up Joe Campbell to discuss the Riker Games, Klingon Karaoke, the Away Team Scavenger Hunt, and all those Star Trek things you’re boldly craving at Dragon Con.

One of my favorites is the late night deep dive into the world of Trek fanfic with Sue Kisenwether. You can find it under “Exploring Strange Old Fics” in the schedule.

The show can be found in video form on YouTube and in audio on the official website and wherever fine podcasts are fed. The Dragon Con Report channels can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. You can catch their shows live on those platforms or on demand on their website.

Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

Dragon Con 2025

August 20, 2025September 29, 2025 Michael FalknerLeave a comment

Dragon Con 2025
Atlanta, GA – August 28 through September 1, 2025

Dragon Con!

It’s an annual tradition for me. It’s also a family reunion of sorts as I catch up with dear friends from around the world. This year will be my sixteenth time attending and my eighth year as an attending professional.

If you plan to be there, you can find me at various places over Labor Day weekend according to the schedule below. The convention app is available now – look for Dragon Con by Core-apps in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store – and contains the schedule of events. The list of confirmed guests, performers, artists, and attending professionals is available on the official Dragon Con site.

The schedule spans various fan tracks, each of which specializes in topics like Star Wars, Star Trek, military science fiction, horror, literature, and so on. From those hundreds of hours of programming, each attendee can play Choose Your Own Adventure and build their ultimate geeky experience.

Dragon Con itself takes place in downtown Atlanta spanning five hotels (Courtland Grand Hotel, Hilton Atlanta, Atlanta Marriott Marquis, Hyatt Regency Atlanta, and Westin Peachtree Plaza) and the AmericasMart Atlanta exhibition center. The convention draws approximately 70,000 to 80,000 attendees (or more) annually and showcases one of the city’s most popular parades on Saturday morning at 10am.

Dragon Con prides itself on contributions to charity and the community. You can find more information about those efforts on their webpage. Each year, the convention partners with a local charity organization and this year’s partner is the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). NAMI started as a small group of families gathered around a kitchen table in 1979 has blossomed into the nation’s leading voice on mental health. Today, it is an association of more than 500 local affiliates who work in the community to raise awareness and provide support and education that was not previously available to those in need. Dragon Con will match every donation up to $125,000.

The convention hosts the Dragon Con Hustle, a virtual 5K conducted on the honor system. The registration fee is donated to the annual charity and each participant gets a physical medal two weeks after the convention ends. This is probably one of my favorite ways to donate since I routinely log 30 to 35 miles during the convention as I walk to and fro. You can run, walk, roll, or even skip your way to the goal, and all Dragon Con asks is for a progress update on social media with the #DragonConHustle hashtag.

Dragon Con also hosts one of the most successful blood drives with the donations going to the non-profit Lifesouth Community Blood Centers. Lifesouth serves 125 hospitals in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, and the Dragon Con blood drives routinely outperform those held at that big west coast corporate convention.

If you’re new to the convention, consider stopping by the Dragon Con Newbies group on Facebook. It is run by Kevin Bachelder, Sue Kisenwether, Kim McGibony, and me, and is an in-depth community resource for information about this massive (and sometimes overwhelming) event. Memberships (tickets) for this year’s convention are available, however memberships are limited.

With all that said, here’s where to find me during Dragon Con 2025.

Note: All Dragon Con schedules are tentative until the convention ends on Monday. Even then, things are a bit suspect. As things change before the convention, I’ll update this post.

Revision History:

- Rev 0 – 20 Aug 2025: Initial post.

The Schedule

Attendees start rolling in up to a week before the convention and start partying. I don’t have any big plans for Wednesday yet, but I will definitely be in the area on Thursday to check in to the hotel, pick up my badge and Hard Rock Dragon Con gear, and get started with programming.

12:00p-4:00p: Dragon Con Newbies Walking and Rolling Tours (4 hours)
Main Programming
Marriott Marquis, Atrium Level, A601-A602
Want to get the lay of the land & find your way around the Dragon Con Campus? Did you know there is even a food court? Meet others new to Dragon Con by touring with veteran con-goers. Guided groups leave every 30 minutes. The last tours of the day will depart at approximately 3:30PM.
Panelists include: Kevin Bachelder, Sue Kisenwether, Kim McGibony

4:00p-5:00p: Dragon Con Newbies Discussion with Q&A (1 hour)
Main Programming
Marriott Marquis, Atrium Level, A601-A602
First Dragon Con, eh? Or, maybe you still find yourself confused or overwhelmed, even if it’s your 2nd or 3rd Dragon Con. Savvy Convention attendees will share tips & tricks to navigate this amazing pop-culture event. Audience Q&A.
Panelists include: Kevin Bachelder, Sue Kisenwether, Kim McGibony

10:00a: Dragon Con Newbies Discussion with Q&A (1 hour)
Main Programming
Marriott Marquis, Atrium Level, A601-A602
First Dragon Con, eh? Or, maybe you still find yourself confused or overwhelmed, even if it’s your 2nd or 3rd Dragon Con. Savvy Convention attendees will share tips & tricks to navigate this amazing pop-culture event. Audience Q&A.
Panelists include: Kevin Bachelder, Sue Kisenwether, Kim McGibony

1:00p: Fragmented Selves: Memory, Identity, and Humanity in Modern SF Media (1 hour)
American Science Fiction and Fantasy Media
Marriott Marquis, M302-M303
‘Who am I?’ is a core question in modern SF. From Murderbot seeking autonomy to Severance’s split identities, memory shapes the self. Bucky Barnes battles brainwashing in the MCU, while N.A.T.A.L.I.E. in Ironheart blurs lines between AI and humanity. Let’s explore identity’s frontiers.
Panelists include: Alli Martin, Chelsey Bogan

5:30p: Webs, Wit, and Reboots: Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (1 hour)
American Science Fiction and Fantasy Media
Marriott Marquis, M301
Peter Parker returns to animation exploring the early days of the beloved hero. We’ll look into the show’s style, story, and how it reimagines classic characters for a new generation. How does it stand apart from past versions and what makes this Spidey so friendly?
Panelists include: Anthony Liggins, Joshua Lapin-Bertone, Michael Collins

7:00p: Box Office Blues (1 hour)
American Science Fiction and Fantasy Media
Marriott Marquis, M301
Theaters are still recovering from COVID, streaming shifts, industry strikes, and pressure for opening weekend hits. Even big successful movies don’t stay in the theaters long. We’ll explore how these forces reshape what gets made, what gets shown, and why audiences return — or don’t.
Panelists include: Stuart Grosse, Joshua Lapin-Bertone, Jon-Paul Estes

11:30a: Rewind and Rewatch: Farscape
Military Science Fiction
Westin, Chastain DE
We’ve done a rewatch of the series and recruited new viewers (and fans)! Do your own rewatches and come talk with us about how it holds up, and how it feels to encounter for the first time.
Panelists include: James Henson, Lacee Aderhold, Laura Jae

4:00p: MCU: Fantastic (4) Futures
American Science Fiction and Fantasy Media
Marriott Marquis, M302-M303
Marvel’s First Family finally enters the cinematic stage of the MCU. How were they reimagined? Did the cast do the characters justice? What did you think of the retro future vision? From multiversal wrap-ups to cosmic threats, does it set the stage for the next era of the franchise?
Panelists include: Kevin Cafferty, Hanako Ricks, Abigail Hart, Marx Pyle

5:30p: Doctor Who: New Series Review
BritTrack
Hilton Atlanta, Galleria 5
Ncuti Gatwa’s second season as the Doctor was a cosmic rollercoaster — thrilling, emotional, and occasionally a bit dizzying. With a finale that left fans gasping and a regeneration twist that rewrote the rulebook, it’s clear: the TARDIS isn’t the only thing that’s changing.
Panelists include: Ryan Carey, Caro McCully, Ralph Lawson, Moe Hemmi

7:00p: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Anniversary Pizza Par-taaaaay
American Science Fiction Classics
Marriott Marquis, M103-M105
You’re sadly mistaken if you think you’re leaving this panel without A) enjoying delightful pizza to celebrate the first live-action Ninja Turtles movie. and 2) doing a very dramatic reading of Partners in Kryme’s “Turtle Power.”
Panelists include: Nick Frutiger, Keith R.A. DeCandido

No panels scheduled at this time.

Culture on My Mind – The Word and the Fire

July 10, 2025June 17, 2025 Michael FalknerLeave a comment

Culture on My Mind
The Word and the Fire
June 16, 2025

Every so often a news story crosses my desk about a home or church that burned to the ground. What makes them stand out is when journalists emphasize how a bible “miraculously” survived the fire.

The most notable example in American history comes from the fire that consumed Peshtigo, Wisconsin in October 1871. It was a result of slash-and-burn land management propelled by a cold front that merged several fires, eventually destroying 16 other communities and 1.5 million acres of land. It is hardly talked about since it occurred on the same day as the more famous Great Chicago Fire, but it killed at least five times as many people and leveled the town.

One object that remained behind was a bible, charred and petrified, but intact and left open to Psalms 106 and 107. That artifact is now enshrined in the Peshtigo Fire Museum.

Other examples of the phenomenon are plentiful as shown by a Google search for “bible survived fire.” But why?

The first explanation you typically see on social media is supernatural. It’s nice to believe that a god has sent a divine sign, but it’s survivorship bias: A bible surviving a fire is highly memorable and gets publicized, but if a fire consumes a bible, no one reports it. People remember the exceptions more than the rule, and the media is a showcase for that bias.

Let’s be clear, if you find comfort in a supernatural basis for this phenomenon, that’s fine by me. If you’re not interested in the science behind it, feel free to check out now. I won’t be offended. I like to find more terrestrial reasons for the things we see in the world. I saw a news story about this and decided to look into it further.

Okay… science time.

Fire requires three elements to ignite and sustain: Heat, fuel, and oxygen. This is the Fire Triangle, and if any of those three elements is removed, the triangle (and the fire) collapses. Tightly bound paper restricts airflow, so the outer layers of a book may char and burn, but the lack of oxygen inside the book can prevent ignition. The layer of charred material that develops can also insulate the interior, similar to a log on a campfire. Given enough exposure, the log will burn through, but otherwise it smolders on the outside but remains whole inside.

Bibles are often made of different paper than novels or coffee table books. Most bibles I have owned have pages that cling together like onion skin, and that clingy effect further reduces airflow. A hard cover or leather binding further insulates the pages within as it burns over a longer time.

Remember how the Peshtigo bible was petrified? Intense heat can induce chemical cross-linking in paper, resulting in stiffened and strengthened pages which can act like further insulation.

The books that remain open (like the Peshtigo bible) present an easily-ignited outer surface – paper typically ignites at approximately 451°F (233°C), hence Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 – but the low surface area of an open book makes ignition and sustained burning less probable. If it does ignite, the rest of the book is still insulated unless sustained heat is present.

That sustained heat isn’t a given. Once a fire burns through the rest of the fuel – the structure and furniture – it dies down as the Fire Triangle collapses. Fire is also fairly unpredictable and depends on air currents, fuel arrangement, ventilation, and obstacles. Bibles are usually stored in drawers or other enclosures, which can shield them from radiant heat and direct flame.

All of those factors together lead to books surviving fires more often than sensationalist media would have us believe. Fires have been studied for decades. The effects of fire on libraries and archives was specifically analyzed in a study from 2018.

The idea that a god left a divine symbol of hope in the midst of a life-changing tragedy can be comforting. But recognizing the cognitive bias is important.

Equally important is understanding the reason behind what we see in the world around us.

Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

Culture on My Mind – Dragon Con Report 2025 #5: Palmetto Knights

July 3, 2025June 3, 2025 Michael FalknerLeave a comment

Culture on My Mind
Dragon Con Report 2025 #5: Palmetto Knights
July 3, 2025

In the fifth episode for 2025, the team suits up for a conversation with Laurence Lagnese, the event coordinator for the Palmetto Knights. The Palmetto Knights is a nonprofit international sports team based out of South Carolina with various clubs in the southeast. The medieval fight team includes both men and women, and focuses on the research and training to recreate the ancient art of Medieval and Renaissance foot combat. At Dragon Con, they host the Dragon’s Cup Tournament.

Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

STEAM Saturday – Cosmic Dawn and Birthday Tortoise

June 28, 2025June 17, 2025 Michael FalknerLeave a comment

STEAM Saturday
Cosmic Dawn and Birthday Tortoise
June 28, 2025

In this edition, Japan crashes into the moon again, happy birthday to Goliath, and eyes on the Cosmic Dawn.

It’s been a while, hasn’t it? About a year. This is one of the series on Creative Criticality that takes a bit of work to research and assemble, and things have been a bit busy behind the scenes.

Scientific America – A Japanese Spacecraft Has Crash-Landed on the Moon—Again (June 6, 2025)
A Japanese spacecraft has probably crashed on the Moon, the second failed landing attempt for Tokyo-based private firm ispace.

NPR – Goliath the Galápagos tortoise celebrated his first Father’s Day and 135th birthday (June 17, 2025)
Goliath the tortoise had a big shellebration Sunday as he marked his first Father’s Day.

Space.com – Astronomers see the 1st stars dispel darkness 13 billion years ago at ‘Cosmic Dawn’ (June 11, 2025)
Astronomers have used ground-based telescopes for the first time to peer back 13 billion years in time to observe the universe when the first stars first lifted the cosmic darkness.

Live Science – GPT-4.5 is the first AI model to pass an authentic Turing test, scientists say (April 13, 2025)
Large language models (LLMs) are getting better at pretending to be human, with GPT-4.5 now resoundingly passing the Turing test.

Science.org – The Organ Farm (May 29, 2025)
Gene-edited pig kidneys are finally moving the long-stymied field of xenotransplantation forward.

Constellation Energy – Constellation to Launch Crane Clean Energy Center, Restoring Jobs and Carbon-Free Power to The Grid (Sept 20, 2024)
Constellation signs its largest-ever power purchase agreement with Microsoft, a deal that will restore TMI Unit 1 to service and keep it online for decades; add approximately 835 megawatts of carbon-free energy to the grid; create 3,400 direct and indirect jobs and deliver more than $3 billion in state and federal taxes.

World Nuclear News – NextEra initiates regulatory process to restart Duane Arnold (January 29, 2025)
NextEra Energy has filed a licensing change request for its Duane Arnold nuclear power plant in Iowa with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. This marks the first step toward seeking approval to restart the plant, which was taken out of service in 2020.

Dr. Rossome – Facebook and Instagram Reel: Vaccines Don’t Cause Autism (June 6, 2025)
Dr. Ross Newman is an evidence-based pediatrician.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ross Newman (@dr_rossome)

Physics Girl – Hosted by Dianna Cowern, a science communicator and physics alumna from MIT, this show was part of PBS Digital Studios until 2020. She uses her platform to explore complex physics, astronomy, and science-related topics in simple terms.

Dr. Erin Explains the Universe – Dr. Erin Macdonald has a PhD in Astrophysics (University of Glasgow) and is a self-proclaimed N7 Slytherin from Starfleet Academy. Her series focuses on the science behind science fiction. In 2019 she was hired as the official science consultant for the ever-expanding Star Trek Universe and is currently working on all shows in development.
Dr. Erin Explains the Universe was suggested by Sue Kisenwether.

Kyle Hill – Kyle Hill is a science educator with degrees in civil and environmental engineering and science communication. He previously hosted the popular Because Science YouTube series, but now runs The Facility.

xkcd’s What If? – Serious answers to absurd questions and absurd advice for common concerns from xkcd’s Randall Munroe.

Jerry Rig Everything – Zack Nelson has used his love of repairing, simple explanations, and brief tutorials to help millions of people with repairs of their own. Outside of YouTube, his ‘to-the-point’ style of teaching has created instructional and informational videos for manufacturers and factories around the world.

Mark Rober – An engineer and inventor, Mark Rober presents popular science concepts and do-it-yourself gadgets in easy-to-understand terms. He was previously a NASA engineer (where he worked on the Curiosity rover) and a product designer at Apple’s Special Projects Group (where he authored patents involving virtual reality in self-driving cars). One of his best-known series involves the development of a glitter bomb to combat porch pirates and internet scammers.

Practical Engineering – Grady Hillhouse is a civil engineer in San Antonio, Texas. His channel aims to increase exposure and interest in the field of engineering by highlighting the connection between the world around us and the energy, passion, and thought that goes into making it a nicer place to live.

Not Just Bikes – Stories of great urban planning and urban experiences from the Netherlands and beyond. There are a lot of reasons why Dutch cities are so great; it’s not just bikes.

Streetcraft – Blending urban design and visual storytelling to craft solutions & inspire conversations about change.

Peter Brown (Shop Time) – Peter Brown is a geek with a full set of power tools, and he uses that knowledge to experiment, craft, and have fun.

Boylei Hobby Time – A hobbyist just trying to make fun things and inspire you to be creative.

Ali Spagnola – Musician. Comedian. Artist. Exceptional high fiver. Ali Spagnola is your internet best friend! You never know what her comedy and music videos might entail but you know they’ll always be outrageous, clever, and spread joy.

8-bit Music Theory – This YouTuber loves music, video games, and analyzing and talking about music from video games. He promises that if you are a big nerd, you’ll love it too!

Charles Cornell – Charles Cornell, a YouTuber and online content creator in the music education space, has a professional background as a jazz pianist and composer.

Frank Howarth – A Portland, Oregon-based architect and woodworker, Frank Howarth uses stop-motion animation to demonstrate his design and building process for a variety of projects and art pieces.

Glen and Friends – Glen and Julie Powell of Toronto host this look into recipes from the Depression Era, including if those recipes still work or can be improved in the modern day. It’s a great look into history and how cooking is both science and art.

I Like To Make Stuff – Bob Clagett likes to make stuff, whether it be home renovations, fixing up a vintage car, or building an astromech droid.

Wendover Productions – Wendover Productions, run by filmmaker Sam Denby, is all about explaining how our world works. From travel, to economics, to geography, to marketing, and more, every video will leave you with a little better understanding of our world. Sam also runs the channel Half as Interesting.

If you have any suggestions for STEAM Saturday, please leave them below in the comments. If your suggestion is used, your name will be credited.

Disclaimers: Any sponsored content or advertising presented in videos and/or links highlighted in STEAM Saturday are not necessarily endorsed or supported by Creative Criticality. Pursue such content and offers at your own risk. The links and videos attached to this post were publicly available at the time of publication, but there is no guarantee of availability after publication.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope that something inspired you to get out there and explore the universe.

STEAM Saturday is a celebration of curiosity and imagination through science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics, the very building blocks of the universe around us.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

Culture on My Mind – Dragon Con Report 2025 #4: Glamour Geek Revue

June 20, 2025June 3, 2025 Michael FalknerLeave a comment

Culture on My Mind
Dragon Con Report 2025 #4: Glamour Geek Revue
June 20, 2025

In the fourth episode for 2025, the team gets sparkly, sultry, and spectacular with the sensational May Hemmer. The Glamour Geek Revue is Dragon Con’s premier burlesque extravaganza, and in this edition of the Dragon Con Report, May reviews past performances and teases the cosplay creativity and breathtaking routines you might see in this year’s show.

Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

Culture on My Mind – Peter David

June 16, 2025June 10, 2025 Michael FalknerLeave a comment

Culture on My Mind
Peter David
June 16, 2025

Writer Peter David died on May 24, 2025.

I never met him personally, but his work was some of the best in the franchises I love. I have told the story many times about my introduction to science fiction through Lost in Space and Star Trek reruns. I fell away from Star Trek television in the late ’80s and early ’90s, but came around once again when my friend Ryan introduced me to Star Trek Generations at a small fan gathering in the mid-90s. Around the franchise’s 30th anniversary, after both of us received the Star Trek 30 Years collector’s edition book with my first map of the Trek galaxy, I started a deep dive catch-up through re-runs and the local library.

Among the first books I checked out was the hardcover of Imzadi. It was a wacky adventure full of time travel shenanigans, graced by a Keith Birdsong cover that showcased silver fox Admiral Riker. I soon pivoted to Q-Squared, which blew my young mind with the way Peter David wrote parallel universes. This is a novel I think about quite often. Vendetta followed soon after, and eventually I made it to I, Q, a tale amplified by the voice and experience of John de Lancie.

The first Star Trek book I bought was The Captain’s Daughter. It was an impulse purchase at my local Smith’s supermarket, driven by its role as a sequel to Star Trek Generations. With Captain Sulu on the cover and the promise of further tales of Demora Sulu and Captain Harriman, it was an easy spend for my hard-earned lawn mowing money. It maintains a special place in my heart because of that.

He developed a new series for the Star Trek novels as a spin-off from The Next Generation. Star Trek: New Frontier focused on the crew of the USS Excalibur, commanded by maverick Captain Mackenzie Calhoun. It was the first time that I saw an action figure from the novels – the captain was created from a Playmates DS9/Voyager male body, a generic-looking sword, and a custom-sculpted head – and the series ran for an impressive 21 novels, a handful of crossovers, several comics, and a few short stories in various anthologies. I have only read the first four books, but I liked what I saw and the entire series is on my To Read list.

Peter David even graced the Star Wars universe with an amazing one-off Infinities tale. In an eight-page comic published in Star Wars Tales 1, he crafted a “what if” scenario for R5-D4, the other droid on the Jawa sandcrawler in A New Hope. Long story short, R5-D4 was Force-sensitive in this story, and once he met Luke Skywalker at the Lars Homestead, he saw the future and how important R2-D2 was to the galaxy. In the end, he blows his own motivator and embraces his destiny.

Peter David’s bibliography is immense, and he is one of examples of a working writer. He doesn’t appear on best-selling fiction author lists, but he succeeded and he was loved because of his hustle and passion. His work stood out because he embraced his work, capturing the very essence of those universes with his own special enthusiastic flair. He published novels and comics, and spend decades in pop culture. I know him best from his Star Trek work, but I’m intrigued by his Marvel and DC Comics work as well, especially his time on Supergirl given my recent interest in that character. My friends speak highly of his tenure with Spider-Man.

Peter David is one of my favorites in Star Trek fiction. I’ll remember his working writer wisdom (laced with rapier wit) from his article “Why Writers are Scum“:

If the artist is doing his job, then he’s seen. If the writer is doing his job, he’s not. The writer should be the invisible man. The writer hides behind the characters, melting into the background. The writer’s job is to make the characters take on lives of their own, to be real.

Peter David made my favorite characters real. He will be missed.

Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

Culture on My Mind – We Don’t Do Kings Here

June 14, 2025June 13, 2025 Michael Falkner1 Comment

Culture on My Mind
We Don’t Do Kings Here
June 14, 2025

Today marks a series of demonstrations and protests across the United States. Known as the “No Kings” movement, it includes more than 1,500 cities and towns to oppose the current administration.

The concept of monarchy in the United States is not popular. In the Revolutionary era, an estimated fifteen to twenty percent of colonists were Loyalists in support of the British crown. As the country entered the Confederation period, Alexander Hamilton (among others) recommended crowning an American monarch. Hamilton even stated in a lengthy speech before the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that the United States should be led by an elective monarch who ruled for life unless impeached. His proposal was rejected in favor of the four-year term system that has survived to the modern day (though term limits came about in 1951).

In a poll conducted by YouGov in 2021, a mere five percent of Americans thought a monarchy in the United States would be a good thing, while 69 percent said it would be a bad thing. Two years later, YouGov found twelve percent favored the idea while 63 percent opposed it.

The concept of “no kings” in America goes all the way back to the Declaration of Independence. Fed up with the tyranny of King George III, the Second Continental Congress unanimously voted to adopt and issue the document on July 4, 1776. Contrary to the current President’s interpretation, the document isn’t “a declaration of unity and love and respect”. On the contrary, the Declaration of Independence is a list of grievances. Quite literally, it is well-crafted breakup letter including a list of things the colonists hated about the monarchy.

Among those grievances – the very reasons why the Continental Congress decided to “dissolve the political bands” that connected them to Great Britain – we can see many parallels to the 45th and 47th presidential administrations:

The colonial assemblies passed various laws for self-governance and the common good, which the King refused to acknowledge;
The King used his arbitrary will (read: executive orders) in place of legislative process to establish policy over the consent of the people;
The King opposed immigration because it would give the colonies too much power;
The King interfered with and improperly influenced the judiciary;
The King established a variety of new offices that harassed citizens, spent the treasury for their own good, and lined their own pockets;
The King used the military for domestic enforcement and oppression;
The King held mock trials in lieu of legitimate justice, including removing the benefit of jury trials;
The King used trade to punish people and imposed additional taxes without consent (tariffs, which are taxes on consumers);
The King transported citizens “beyond the Seas to be tried for pretended offenses;”
The King “excited domestic insurrections among us;”

…and the list goes on.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

The Declaration states “That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” The United States government under the Constitution was meant as a democratic republic. The power resides with the people, who elect representatives to govern on their behalf through free and fair elections. The government’s power is derived from the people, and elected officials are responsible to the people.

There is neither bloodline nor divine right to dictate who serves in government. The three separate and co-equal branches of government must operate together with checks and balances. One branch cannot ignore the another simply because it’s inconvenient to uphold the Constitution.

After all, those elected to represent and serve the people swear an oath:

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.

There is no absolute power.

There are no kings.

That is why the people march today.

Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

Culture on My Mind – There’s a Reason…

June 11, 2025June 10, 2025 Michael FalknerLeave a comment

Culture on My Mind
There’s a Reason…
June 11, 2025

The reimagined Battlestar Galactica was written as a post-9/11 allegory. Over four seasons, it told the story of a group of refugees seeking asylum from violence, oppression, and genocide. Their beacon of freedom, democracy, and opportunity – the shining city on the hill – was Earth.

These words are still relevant twenty years after they were spoken on our television screens.

Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

Culture on My Mind – Talking Raiders on The Best Stuff in the World

June 9, 2025June 5, 2025 Michael FalknerLeave a comment

Culture on My Mind
Talking Raiders on The Best Stuff in the World
June 9, 2025

I was a guest recently on The Best Stuff in the World. It’s a podcast for people who like things!

This show is hosted by Kevin Cafferty, and like the tagline says, it’s all about celebrating all that is wonderful in the world, from music and movies to immersive theater and games.

On Episode 35, Kevin invited some top men – Kevin Eldridge of The Flopcast and me – to discuss Raiders of the Lost Ark. It is one of the most iconic adventure films of the last 45 years, brought to life by the team of Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and John Williams. Swashbuckling archeologist Indiana Jones was played to perfection by Harrison Ford as he and Karen Allen’s Marion Ravenwood race to defeat the Nazis and find the mythic Ark of the Covenant.

The movie even has a monkey. Just watch out for bad dates.

Along the way, we also touched on the legacy of the Indiana Jones films, novels, video games, and more. You can listen to the episode on the show’s website.

Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.

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