Carmen Sandiego, letters and more
Lately, I’ve had a hankering to play Where in the U.S.A. Is Carmen Sandiego? There are a bunch of versions of this game, so, to be clear, I believe I want the 1996 edition. It’s got animation, voice acting, and live action appearances from the late Lynne Thigpen, a national treasure who basically defines the franchise to me.
Why do I want to play this game? I don’t know, besides the fact that when I’m stressed out, nostalgia is one of my favorite sources of comfort. The Carmen Sandiego series was huge when I was growing up. While I believe this was the only one of the games I owned, I also watched the game show, which featured Thigpen as well.
Unfortunately, I have no idea how to play it. The title doesn’t seem available for purchase. I tried downloading a free copy from a sketchy website, but it doesn’t work. So I’m reduced to just watching other people play through it on YouTube. If any gumshoes out there know how I could get my hands on the game, shoot me an email at JonHoch87@gmail.com.
So far, my last letter has appeared in New Hampshire and Washington publications. Absent some news, my next letter will probably make the public-health case for cultivated-meat research. If you want to write your own letters, here are some tips:
Finally, welcome back to Culture Talk, where I highlight some of the stuff I’ve been watching and reading.
TV: She-Hulk. This seems like pretty standard Marvel fare, which, for me, is a good thing. The studio is on an unprecedented run of success, having mastered a nice balance of humor and action. Sometimes I get sick of the formula, but they mix it up enough that I stay interested. Tatiana Maslany is funny here as a reluctant superhero who just wants to be a lawyer.
Book: Christian Socialism by John Cort. I enjoyed this text, which, it should be said, only covers the history of Germany, France, England and the United States. Besides a wider geographic scope, I think it might have benefited from less editorializing. Still, I learned a good amount, as I haven’t really explored the religious socialist tradition.
Book: Animal Gospel by Andrew Linzey. I believe this is only the second work I’ve read by the author, having read Christianity and the Rights of Animals a couple of years back. I’m aware Linzey is a big name in the field of animals and theology. I intend to read more of his books when I can.
As far as I can tell, Linzey isn’t arguing Jesus was vegetarian. Rather, he’s arguing compassion for animals is the logical, modern extension of Jesus’ life and teachings. This book is short and sweet, which I appreciate. Brevity is underrated in writing.