Will Shakespeare’s Identity Problem

What if Shakespeare didn’t write Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, or any of the plays attributed to William Shakespeare? The question gets asked more than you might think. And it has been asked for hundreds of years. Depending on who you ask, the Shakespeare Authorship Controversy is either the biggest cover-up of the last 500 years, the most epic literary mystery ever, or maybe just a bit of intrigue you never knew you were missing. Watch as IAS user Joe Plummer geeks out about it.

Inspiration

No one bats an eyelash when a songwriter claims to be inspired by a painting or a sculpture so why should there be a stigma for creating music inspired by other forms of art? Tolkien's Lord of the Rings famously acted as muse for several popular songs by the bands Rush and Led Zeppelin ("Fly By Night", "Necromancer"; "Ramble On", "Battle of Evermore" respectively). Weird Al Yankovic released "The TV Album" in 1995 which included songs about The Beverly Hillbillies, and Jeopardy among others. Previously on Lost defines itself as a re-cap rock band, they aren't just inspired by LOST, it is their muse, it is every song, every word, every note, it is their sickness.

Poli-Techs

Adam Mordecai is an internet wizard who builds websites for political causes. If you ask Adam, he'd say that at the most basic level the internet is ones and zeroes - and he'd also say that American politics can be understood in similar terms: good guys and bad guys. Democrats and Republicans. Joe Lieberman would probably then be a virus. Lieberdems will crash your system, for sure.

The politician who says "I hate government! Elect me, I'll burn down City Hall!" gets almost 50% of the vote. He wouldn't get Adam's vote. Adam hates fire and he hates Democrats who play with matches. He's obsessed with Democrats With Spine.

Doctor Who and Faith

Tim Sheridan thinks of himself as snarky, dour, and cynical. He admits though that science fiction, and Doctor Who in particular, make him believe in goodness - or at least the potential for goodness in people. However you get your dose of hope, get it, and keep getting it.