‘Make It or Break It’: Skip it (TV review)
For two weeks once every four years, gymnastics is the most popular sport in America. Like everyone else, I was drawn into the drama of whether Shawn Johnson, Nastia Liukin and the Americans would bring […]
The strange life of Michael Jackson: In the end, the music speaks loudest (Commentary)
Michael Jackson proclaimed himself the King of Pop, but the label caught on because he earned it. I can’t think of any other artist whose death could prompt MTV to actually cover music again. Obituaries […]
For the love of libraries, in all their musty, dusty glory (Book commentary)
In fourth grade, my homeroom teacher conducted a game where every student had a fictional $1,000 to bid on fictional items. Apparently she was preparing us for our futures as eBay bidders. (As I think […]
I wish it was 1996 again, or 1985, or 1979 (Commentary)
On Tuesday, new albums by Dinosaur Jr. and the Lemonheads came out, as my Facebook friend Matt reported. “It’s like it’s 1996 again,” he happily noted, and I agreed. Last week, I was hanging out […]
A belated nod to great music: Christophe Beck’s ‘Buffy’ score is available on CD (Music review)
From the “better late than never” file, Christophe Beck’s “Buffy” score is finally available on CD. It actually came out in 2008, and I just stumbled across it the other day in Best Buy. But 2008 was […]
5 random things to mull over (Commentary)
1. I notice comedians now apologize for jokes if they offend someone. Can you imagine if musicians had to apologize for bad songs? “Sweet Home Alabama” attacks my eardrums every time I walk into a […]
I’m completely smitten with Tracyanne Campbell (Music review)
Like many overly sensitive guys in their (extremely) late 20s, I have a long-distance crush on Camera Obscura lead singer/songwriter Tracyanne Campbell. Yeah, I know I have to get in line, especially after the release […]
Remembering Brainerd … and moving on to the next adventure (Commentary)
I’m moving to Sedalia, Mo., to start a new job, so I’ll soon be racking up new positive and negative experiences. (Based on my first dalliance with the town and the job, it will be […]
Sorry, George Carlin, but I have no place for my stuff (Commentary)
There’s nothing like moving to make a person realize how much stuff he has. I recently unloaded 90 percent of my “Star Wars” and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” collection on eBay, and I’m glad I […]
Road tripping with ‘Harry Potter’ (Book commentary)
When I’m facing down a 10-hour drive, I like to devise strategies of how to make the trip go faster. New Camera Obscura album? Check. Guide to all the Twins radio affiliates so I can […]