Parcbench.com

Parcbench Predicts the 2012 Oscars

Greg Victor — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 07:53:26 +0000

Best Picture The big question is: Will the Academy will really go through with it and actually award a black-and-white silent film Hollywood’s biggest prize to a bunch of French dudes? Oui. WILL WIN: “The Artist” SHOULD WIN: “The Tree of Life” WON: “The Artist” Best Director It’s a battle between three film visionaries (the...

What Christians Can Learn from Act of Valor

Marc T. Newman, Ph.D. — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 11:00:49 +0000

The Bible is a war manual. You don’t have to read very far before you discover that there are, as Chuck Colson once noted, “kingdoms in conflict.” The spiritual life is referred to as a battle, and (as descriptions of Armageddon clarify) Jesus is not just Lord of your life, He is a Lord of...

Wanderlust,” Funny but Forgettable For Those Born after 1980

Chris Yogerst — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 17:00:26 +0000

Judd Apatow has been a solid player with Hollywood comedies for years now. We can usually expect his films to have generally positive and uplifting messages that are hidden beneath a blanket of foul language. Wanderlust, produced by Apatow, has many of the ingredients we would expect. However, you may ask yourself, what have all...

Just Say No to Health Insurance

Rachel Alexander — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 16:29:35 +0000

Everyone talks about reforming health insurance while ignoring a better alternative: healthcare risk pools. Powerful lobbyists for the healthcare insurance industry have convinced politicians to perpetuate the current system of health insurance, hoping that minor tweaks will solve the escalating crisis. Conservative think tanks have even bought into the system due to heavy funding by...

HomeVideodrome: DVD Releases for February 21st, 2012

Hunter Duesing — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 09:00:07 +0000

Once again, due to scheduling conflicts, the HomeVideodrome podcast is cancelled for the week, but next week we should be back in top gear. Go visit The Film Thugs for updates, and be sure to subscribe on iTunes. It’s rare that a movie puts you into the mindset of its protagonist the way that Elizabeth...

‘Act Of Valor’ – The Soundtrack Succeeds In Its Mission

Greg Victor — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 07:15:17 +0000

Act Of Valor: The Album *** ½ (out of 4 stars) Label: Relativity Music Group If you love country music, if you’re not afraid of songs that are unabashedly sympathetic to the plight of military heroes and their loved ones, then you are going to love Act Of Valor: The Album. I only hope the...

A New Gold Commission?

Ralph Benko — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:49:10 +0000

“The gold standard is a modern, digital, information-sharing, global operating standard. Moreover, it is a stable, networking, efficient, price transmission system in the form of a stable international monetary standard,” says Lewis E. Lehrman. Big media is paying attention to proposals for a new Gold Commission. This concept first was floated by Kentucky Senator Rand...

John McEnroe & Jack Sock Maintain Undefeated Doubles Status in Memphis

Greg Victor — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:09:00 +0000

Last night at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis, tennis fans came out to see a legend. They got more than that. Someday they just may look back and realize they saw a couple of legends. Only time will tell, for there was rising American tennis star, Jack Sock kicking things off at the...

Newspapers Defend Their Crony Capitalism: Outdated Monopoly on Public Notices

Rachel Alexander — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 19:49:13 +0000

Ever wonder why taking out a public notice costs so much money? It shouldn’t be that way. With the demise of print newspapers, it no longer makes sense to require that public notices be published only in newspapers. More people have access to the internet now than subscribe to print newspapers. Yet print newspapers have...

‘This Means War’ Review: Could Be Your Perfect Date Night Movie…

Lauren Veneziani — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:45:41 +0000

…if you don’t take it seriously! If you don’t take the film’s message to heart and if single women everywhere realize that this is NOT how you find Mr. Right, This Means War is quite an enjoyable film for both men and women. Before I get hate on how I am giving this film a positive review,...