They were called “novelty songs,” although I didn’t know it at the time. They occupied a special niche that doesn’t seem to exist anymore in this far less innocent age: a nonsensical bubble-gum type of music/lyrics, meant mostly to amuse … Continue reading →
You may recall my disastrous efforts to learn to tango, chronicled here. But I still enjoy the dance as spectator, and the other evening I had the good fortune to attend a thrilling tango performance. Which made me think of … Continue reading →
In recent decades, as the Presidential races have become more like advertising campaigns and less like contests about the issues, there’s been a great deal of attention paid to “acting Presidential.” Some of it is reasonable, an attempt to size … Continue reading →
I was listening to the radio the other day and heard an ad for a Pete Seeger concert. Pete Seeger? He’s still alive? And singing? I thought he must be a thousand years old now, because he already seemed old … Continue reading →
[NOTE: I’m trying to make this blog an Obama-free zone for at least one more day. One day at a time, they say.] This Atlantic article by Nicholas Carr is a recommended read, about the reported loss of concentration and … Continue reading →
[NOTE: Yesterday I wrote about literary style vs. substance. I concluded that it’s possible to have the first while lacking the second, especially in the realm of politics. Today I’m writing about a work that undoubtedly has both style and … Continue reading →
In trying to understand what about Obama appeals so powerfully to his supporters, I’ve decided that some—perhaps even much—of it is style. He gives a good speech. He has a deep voice. He’s tall. He’s slender. He knows what a … Continue reading →
Tim Russert died two days ago, and he’s been mourned and eulogized by many since then. Quite a few of the tributes have made glowing mention of two books he’d written, both on the theme of fatherhood. The first, Big … Continue reading →
For the first time in fourteen years, Leonard Cohen is on tour. The kickoff was in Fredericton, Canada, on May 11. How many more tours could he possibly have in him? The guy is 74, a bit long in the … Continue reading →
If you’ve ever wondered what dancers wear inside their pointe shoes—well, it’s not the same as what Scotsmen wear under their kilts: The video brings back long-buried memories of my own pointe shoe rituals. First there was the taping of … Continue reading →
It’s time to rewrite the lyrics of the Irish pacifist folk tune “Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye” to fit Barack Obama’s gift for sizing up character.
Continue reading →In my continuing quest to bring you the best (and worst) of jello, I offer more of the artwork of Liz Hickok, who makes cities out of the substance. It may sound like a joke, but it’s not.
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