Tom Owens

2 weeks ago | editorial.rottentomatoes.com | Christopher Sanders |Dean DeBlois |Tom Owens |Ralph Fiennes

We’re ranking Gerard Butler movies by Tomatometer! We start with his Certified Fresh, including the How to Train Your Dragon live-action film, the sentimental tearjerker Dear Frankie, and 2020’s Greenland. That sci-fi family thriller was his first Certified Fresh non-animated movie since Frankie 16 years earlier, and that led the way to 2021’s equally praised Copshop.

Feb 4, 2025 | becomingnoble.substack.com | Johann Kurtz |Nate Fischer |Auron MacIntyre |Tom Owens

In Meritocracy is not a good thing, I began a critical examination of the premises inherent in our modern system of ‘meritocracy’. Meritocracy is a concept which initially appears unassailable; should not the person who merits the reward receive it? And yet, as my friend recently pointed out in conversation with , this naive definition is tautological and therefore devoid of substantive content. By definition, merit implies that someone merits something.

Jan 23, 2025 | aaronrenn.com | Tom Owens

Tom Owens posted another provocative essay on his Substack. He doesn’t post often, but when he does it is usually thought provoking. He doesn’t shy away from potentially controversial analysis. You should definitely check out his page and subscribe. He graciously gave me permission to repost his piece here - Aaron.

Dec 10, 2024 | aaronrenn.com | Tom Owens

Tom Owens is a friend of the newsletter who has his own Substack. He doesn’t post often but when he does, it’s typically thought provoking, even provocative. He published a recent piece on the economic struggles of Generation Z and graciously gave me permission to repost it. Please be sure to sign up for his Substack.

Dec 6, 2024 | tomowens.substack.com | Tom Owens

One critique of our cultural moment is the unattainability for young people of the American dream, or what we might more accurately call the middle class — which for shorthand I’ll define as the cost, relative to income, of owning a home and modest, reliable transportation. Is the malaise of much of Gen Z due to moral defects, as some members of older generations claim, or is this malaise simply a rationalization of basic economic hurdles to what came easier in previous eras?