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The US Supreme Court: A Political Institution?
Founding Father and future president John Adams wrote in Thought on Government in 1776: “Judicial power ought to be distinct from both the legislative and executive and independent upon both,” with many seeing the modern-day Supreme Court as having become intrinsically politicised. In order to evaluate if the highest court of the land in the US has become overtly political, it is important to look at factors such as the appointment system, the role of pressure groups, and the upholding of precedent. The following piece will analyse the concept that the US Supreme Court has encroached upon the two other branches of government to become a political institution. FOR One…
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Gerry And The Pacemakers: Far More Than ‘Bootleg Beatles’
A four-piece Liverpudlian band, managed by Brian Epstein and produced by George Martin – we could only be talking about one band…Gerry And The Pacemakers. Well, clearly there were some similarities between The Beatles and Gerry And The Pacemakers! Although sharing early beginnings, with the stomping grounds of the iconic Cavern Club and performing in Hamburg, Germany, the two bands’ careers would split off in different directions; Gerry & The Pacemakers signed to Columbia Records and The Beatles to Parlophone. Upon lead singer Gerry Marsden’s death in 2021, journalist and music critic Neil McCormick wrote in The Daily Telegraph that “as The Beatles forged their identity, the Pacemakers would always…
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Terry Funk: By The Numbers – Reliving His Greatest Moments
It is with immense sadness that the world mourns the loss of Terry Funk. Perhaps the greatest icon in the history of the business, Funk was simply legendary. A bridge between the relic of the wrassling world and the modern commercialised era, Funk has competed in more or less every major promotion of his lifetime. He has been a southern grappler, a mad-eyed loose cannon, and a hardcore icon – but to every fan, he is Terry Funk. With such an accomplished and treasured resume, it seems suitable to look back upon the career of wrestling’s greatest all-around entertainer in terms of his feats and figures. 1: Only…
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A Man of Many Names: The Life and Times of Nelson Frazier Jr.
Across an on-and-off again WWE career of 15 years, Nelson Frazier Jr. underwent various name and gimmick changes. Known as Mabel, Viscera, and Big Daddy V in the company, Frazier found himself from the heights of the main event scene to one of the most distrusted men in the locker room. This is the story, both inside and outside of the ring, of Nelson Frazier Jr. Early Years Born in North Carolina in 1971, Nelson joined the wrestling business early, switching out the tools of joinery for a pair of wrestling boots at just 20 years old. A wrestling fan since the age of three, Frazier has cited Bam Bam…
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“Daisy”: The History of A Landmark Political Attack Ad
In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson was contesting a presidential race for re-election to the USA’s highest office. With the far-right libertarian Barry Goldwater standing against him as the Republican Party candidate, Johnson’s campaign went to drastic measures to ensure his victory, harnessing the new innovative technology of television. In what is commonly referred to as a revolutionary political attack ad, Johnson’s team aired the notorious “Daisy” ad which stated that voting for Goldwater would culminate in nuclear warfare – contributing to what ex-President Eisenhower described as a campaign “more personal than any I have ever known.” Here is the story of the advertisement, its impact, and its legacy on…
