Get the Record Player from Storage
It’s true, I am a child of the 70s. I do remember other kids who had the Fisher-Price record player, but the records were limited to songs like Camptown Races (which I just learned is one of many...
View Article3-Dimensional Possibility of the Book
Three book artists, who work in different genres, talk about their approach to papercraft book design in this video by PBS. Their works range greatly in style: a familiar pop-up form that tells a...
View ArticleLife Is What You Make It
Los Angeles production team Christopher and Christine Kezelos of Zealous Creative created this oddly charming short stop-motion animated film. You may start the film and think “what is she talking...
View ArticleThe Truth of Elections According to FDR
I know he’s dead, but could we bring him back for a fourth term anyway? If he could get this country through the Depression and much of WWII, perhaps he could take care of our myriad of current...
View ArticleThe Kills
This song came up on my iPod the other day, reminding me how much I enjoy it. The song is melancholy, and while I’ve never delved into the lyrics to try and understand it’s meaning, it seemed safe to...
View ArticleFair Is Fair
Really not much to say about this other than don’t screw with a capuchin monkey, as Frans de Waal discovered in this early version of a now well known experiment. These monkeys know all about equal...
View ArticleMiike Snow
I went to see Miike Snow (pronounced Mike) at the Paradise in Boston last night. First I’d like to note that the Paradise badly needs a new sound system. The singer seemed to have a cold, but was...
View ArticleNew Characters at Disney
I visited Disney World with my parents when I was a teenager. I remember meeting the guy whose job was water skiing Goofy. He was a jerk. I’d much rather hang out with water skiing Vader. Right now...
View ArticleMetric
Metric, fronted by Emily Haine who has performed with the Broken Social Scene, Stars, Crystal Method (for a taste) and had her own self named band, has recently given us a new album, Synthetica. I...
View ArticleA Collaborative Sonata
I recently encountered a busker in Denver who I stopped to give a dollar. Most people walking past might enjoy the music for a moment but don’t generally pause to think about what these artists share;...
View ArticleMusic Edition – Ana Ng
Several months ago I had a nostalgic night of board games, accompanied by They Might Be Giants. I hadn’t listened to them much, if at all, since high school, but quickly remembered why they appealed...
View ArticleKids Plant Kale, Kids Eat Kale
Ron Finley grew up in South Central LA, home of strip malls and abandoned lots. I won’t give you all the details because, as a native, a man who wants to change the fabric of his community and a...
View ArticleDeceptive Practice
This is no exaggeration. I am thrilled that this documentary about Ricky Jay was produced and is soon to be released. I may need to collect my other fan friends for a group viewing. You may know Ricky...
View ArticleThe National – Slow Show
I had a lovely surprise today: tickets to see one of my most favorite bands. They are playing in a festival at Boston City Hall, which greatly disappointed me. City Hall Plaza is a terrible design by...
View ArticleEpic Rap Battles of History
Something light to get us past hump day. These rap battles have been on the interwebs for a while, but I’m a newcomer. Peter Shukoff (aka Nice Peter) and Lloyd Ahlquist (aka EpicLLOYD), the minds...
View ArticlePeople Who Didn’t Die, Yet
I was in first grade when the Dudley Moore’s movie Arthur was all the rage (IMDB tells me that the film is considered a modern reworking of the P.G. Wodehouse‘s Jeeves and Wooster tales. I’ll mull...
View ArticleControlling Lothario
Dogs are generally known to be face lickers, but not this Shiba Inu, who has learned to block his owner’s affectionate advances by all means necessary. Further proof that Shiba Inus are awesome dogs....
View ArticleFood Together, Better than Food Alone
It’s turned into dog day. Here’s a lovely animated short, Omelette, about a shared love of food and how it brings family (through birth or circumstance) together. I learned to cook with my mom at an...
View ArticleLibrarians + Beastie Boys?
Oh yeah! Chicago-based comedy musicians Mike Ferbrache and Duane Freeman recruited a group of middle-aged librarians for their take on [The Beastie Boys'] “Sabotage,” complete with criminals hell-bent...
View ArticleDelayed Gratification
This video has so many great qualities. Cookie Monster gets to eat a cookie. He doesn’t get as many these days, since the producers of Sesame Street decided, several years ago now, that the children...
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