Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires: “Mutineer”
One more before bedtime. Zevon would have loved it.
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Establishment Music: WTF ever happened to Country & Western?
If C&W had a soul Jason Isbell would be the biggest thing in Nashville. Keith Urban is a judge on American Idol. Blake Shelton is on The Voice. Taylor Swift, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and the rest of these prancing pinup models are the stars of the moment. Meanwhile, down in Alabama, Jason Isbell has produced as good a set
Read morePhotography: The temple of glass
Controversial US Olympic Committee figure skating decision points the way to a more just system for determining winners
Everyone knows that the best team or athlete doesn’t always win. So why should we continue rewarding the inferior competitor? Did you see this? The US Olympic Committee has given the third women’s figure skating slot to the fourth place finisher instead of, you know, the third place finisher. And it’s all legal! …U.S. Figure Skating officials chose to look
Read more10 second restaurant review: Kamei, West Seattle
Tasteless and overpriced is a bad combination. A friend told me to avoid the place and I should have listened. I ordered the teriyaki beef and the sprouts were easily the most flavorful thing on the plate. Grade: D
Read moreAre you a socialist? Take the test….
A 2011 study yields surprising results. The word “socialist” was, for all intents and purposes, dead and buried after the fall of the Iron Curtain. But it has enjoyed a huge resurgence in popularity since, oh, 2008 or so. The thing is, since we hadn’t had any real socialistm for awhile, our understanding of what the term means has gotten
Read morePhotography: Prayer
Dear America: Iowa laughs at your “polar vortex”
I don’t want to make light of the cold snap sweeping the eastern half of the country. I know it’s dangerous and I hope everyone reading is warm and safe. That said, the issue here isn’t the cold. It’s the level of preparedness. I spent two winters in Iowa while getting my MA at Iowa State in Ames. And I’m
Read moreAnd now, let’s get 2014 started: Benjamin Bratton’s epic anti-TED Talk TED Talk
TEDx: It’s “Amusing Ourselves to Death” for the Techoliterati crowd. Happy New Year, a few hours early, from the staff of Scholars & Rogues. Have fun tonight, but please be careful. Big holiday occasions are amateur night and we don’t want you getting run over by drunken idiots. It goes without saying that we don’t want you being drunken idiots.
Read moreGoodbye 2013. Don’t let the door hit you in the ass.
The economic recovery hasn’t reached my house yet. I called 2010 the worst year ever. Then I elaborated a little. Sometimes I look back and wonder how the hell I survived that hateful, soul-destroying twelve months. Other times I look back and I’m not sure I actually did. Pieces of me died in 2010 and I carry the emptiness around
Read moreThe Best CDs of 2013: the end of a tradition
For a very long time I have ended the year with my annual best CDs list. I listen to a lot of music and have always enjoyed being able to pimp the great stuff to my readers. The tradition ends here, though. Over the course of the last couple of years I have worked to unclutter my life, to clear
Read more10-second beer review: Barrel-aged Black Lager from Elliott Bay Brewing
Okay, so I’m a pimp for Elliott Bay. But this lager is incredible. Rich, although not as heavy as a stout, and aged in Heaven Hills bourbon casks. The result is a sour robust enough for the snob (in the house!) but not one that will weigh you down if you prefer lighter body beers (although the ABV may well
Read moreNBA Christmas Day uniforms: #KMN
I’m usually a big fan of Adidas. But the soccer division is clearly where they put all the designers who have ideas. I mean, I thought it couldn’t get any worse than last year. I was wrong.
Read more10 reasons people hate poetry
Interesting item from Kevin Pocock over at Poejazzi, which I found out about because he linked my piece on walking away from it all. Much to think about there, but items #2 and #9 are near and dear to my heart. Also #5, which certainly describes me, as much as I hate to admit it.
Read more#WTF moment of the year? Seriously, what was “racist PR director” Justine Sacco thinking? [UPDATED]
I don’t have any deep insight here. Really, this post is mostly about pointing to a story, throwing up my hands in disbelief and wondering what the fuck?
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