Dan Blomquist

Journalist

Everything from political reporting to entertainment reviews.

Portfolio
Merry-Go-Round Magazine
05/30/2020
The Prestige Voyeurism of COUPLES THERAPY - Merry-Go-Round

Voyeurism has such negative connotations. You're supposedly supposed to feel ashamed for eavesdropping, spying, and otherwise sticking your nose where it's been told it doesn't belong. What I'd like these hypothetical snobs to explain is why reality TV feels so good to watch.

Merry-Go-Round Magazine
10/11/2019
Nostalgia and Closure: Cowboys, Aliens, and Drug Lords - MGRM

I'd like to never use the word "nostalgia" again, yet it's basically all I write about. I bitch and moan endlessly about an emotion that's become a necessary component of most major movies and TV shows. Stories that could potentially stand on their own get plopped into the booster seat of previous IP to ensure maximum profits.

Merry-Go-Round Magazine
03/11/2019
PUBG Pros on APEX LEGENDS, TETRIS 99, and the Future of Battle Royales

A few weeks ago, I wrote an article about how PUBG brought me back to the weightless joy of youth . The same day that story ran, APEX LEGENDS released to explosive, largely positive reactions. Clearly, the battle royale genre might not be on the way out quite yet.

Merry-Go-Round Magazine
08/25/2016
DEADWOOD - Why Aren't You Watching? - Merry-Go-Round

At times, it seems like the point of DEADWOOD was to make GAME OF THRONES look shittier. The aggressively sad nature of GoT is what makes it refreshing and unpredictable, and I used to think that Benioff and Weiss were the masters of their niche.

Merry-Go-Round Magazine
12/23/2018
Put on Your Yarmulke, Adam Sandler and Hanukkah - Merry-Go-Round

A few thousand years ago or so, around this time of year, Maccabean Jews successfully fought to reclaim the Temple in Jerusalem. They burned sacred olive oil as a sacrifice to God, and because of the enemy occupation, there was only enough oil in the temple for one night.

Easy Reader News
07/25/2012
Local hockey heros celebrated with Stanley Cup apperance in Redondo Beach

Redondo Beach hockey fans were treated to a celebration 45 years in the making early Wednesday as the Stanley Cup was put on display in the parking lot of the Redondo Beach Café. The café, a popular hangout for the players in the past, opened their doors to throngs of locals who wanted to see the cup and celebrate the win with the team.

The Berkeley Beacon
04/13/2016
Media moguls swapped out for meme makers

I would have never thought the day would come that I could put "makes dank memes" on my resume-but based on what I've seen this primary season, that might be a profitable skill someday. Memes have become a powerful tool in this election cycle, and as the internet and social media continue to grow, these images will grow alongside them.