It's true that I love Neveldine & Taylor and I really hope they can elevate this Ghost Rider above its predecessor -- this will have to be way better than the first movie to seem anything but pointless, sadly.
Comment emailed from David Metcalfe at NYU:

As I mentioned on Twitter, I was just having a momentary bout of sensitivity based on a two day indulgence in idealistic and nuanced cultural critique, and perhaps a bit of sentimentality for the complexity of Mediterranean expressions of devotion.

The use of the term "pseudo-religion" sent me into a tailspin, which the comments by whoever is behind the Fennris30 handle did a bit to assuage. If you were using "pseudo-religion" in terms of it being a specialized branch of Mediterranean religion, that would make sense.

It's difficult to express in a single article the fascinating interplay of socio-religious ideologies in the Greco-Roman cultic system.

Jake Stratton Kent has written extensively on the various Mystery cults in his work Geosophia, which presents a detailed exploration of the pre-Grecian origins of these practices via the transmission and understanding of Goetic practice. It took him two massive volumes for that one book, and he just scratched the surface. Scholars have spent centuries debating the details of these practices, and it's only recently that many of the pieces (via advances in scholarship across a number of different disciplines) are falling into place for a more accurate understanding of what they were about.

In terms of contemporary revivals, I think something like Chris Knowle's Secret History of Rock & Roll gives a better understanding of the active potential in these rites than a reenactment group, but that's just my personal predilection for phenomenological approaches to understanding religious and cultic groups. Also looking at Masonic rituals, which use many of the same methods as the Mystery cults, would provide another active and contemporary example of what these groups of worshipers were doing.

When I read "psychedelic" I think of an active engagement with the psyche, not necessarily via an entheogen, and I think that this broader perspective is something that has been shown to be a very important part of the Mystery cults. Their use of mythological narratives, along with seasonally significant rites, manipulation of the senses, and dramatic elements, is very specific. All of these elements combine, in the case of the Eleusinian Mysteries, to form a structure that was known to cause irrevocable belief in the adherents who reached higher levels of initiation.

I think this is something that bears relevance to social critique. It provides a way to understand how contemporary media is effective at sculpting culture, as Ioan Couliano points out in his work Eros & Magic in the Renaissance.

So...basically I'm a bit tired after a long week, have spent too many years reading about these things, just got off a couple days of over-indulgent binging on fringe scholarship, and was hit sideways by reading an introductory article on a topic that I have deeply invested myself in.

The late Karl Kerényi (if interested) provides a beautiful and poetic glimpse into the depth of Mediterrenean belief. His work on Hermes is incredible: [www.psybernet.co.nz]

Unfortunately I couldn't find a link to an online version, or preview, of his work on Eleusis.

It was incredibly nice of you to offer a chance to respond and clarify my hesitancy with the article. Whatever aetheric cloud was burst by the term pseudo-religion was replaced with a warm sense of general communicative reciprocity by your gesture.

Ditto. That sounds like my dream movie.
Well, I think "mystery cult" is a specific type of religion, and this falls into that.
He spends the entire episode changing the future, though. He sees this one woman relapsing into alcoholism and ruining her families lives, and instead he kills her. This happens over and over. He proves he can change the futures he sees.
They referenced it quite a bit when Caroline first became a vampire... and I think we still have indications here and there that Caroline doesn't really trust Damon after the way he treated her. But yeah, good point -- that has been swept under the rug a little bit.
Hence me saying it's not really a proper love triangle.

Carmen Electra meets a mutant carnivore in 2 Headed Shark Attack

February 10, 2012 – It's been a while since we've had a good schlocky direct-to-video (or direct to Syfy) feature like Sharktopus — so this new trailer for 2 Headed Shark Attack is quite possibly cause for rejoicing.

A warrior angel has a hard time picking his battles, in Javier Grillo-Marxuach’s Ramiel

February 10, 2012 – Javier Grillo-Marxuach originally created The Middleman as a comic book before turning into a beloved television series — so when he launches another new comic, it's best to jump in on the ground floor. More »

Well, for me personally -- and, I suspect, for other people -- it goes back further than that. For me, it started with the "OMG Peter is a serial killer wearing an evil hoodie" storyline. And the "Peter must choose between the two Olivias, and whichever Olivia he doesn't choose, her universe will die." And the whole "the First People are super important and significant, oh wait they're not." And the pregnancy. Etc. There's been a string of red herrings, culminating in what I thought was kind of a disappointing resolution to the whole "two universes at war" storyline. And now, we've had half a season of slow unfolding of the "Peter never existed" storyline, which has resulted in the awesome chemistry of the cast being severely diluted. It just hasn't been as interesting as how as it was a year or so ago.
Oh that is sweet. Thanks for sharing!
Sources are listed in the gallery... they're all from concept art sites and forums.
FIxed now! Sorry, technical glitch!
FIxed now! Sorry, technical glitch!
FIxed now! Sorry, technical glitch!
FIxed now! Sorry, technical glitch!
FIxed now! Sorry, technical glitch!
I think that was some other guy, also named Michael Caine. They look similar, it's a common mistake.

George Lucas now claims that Greedo always shot first

February 10, 2012 – George Lucas has already sworn to stop making big-budget movies in response to fans' criticisms, but he still has an axe to grind. In particular, about the common complaints about his endless revisions of the original trilogy. More »

We Come from the Future
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