Looking Through the Glass
On truth and fiction and telling the difference: The strange fate of Stephen Glass and the articles he wrote for The New Republic.
Pulp Non-Fiction
My essay on Edmund Morris’ Dutch wouldn’t be worth reading today, if it wasn’t primarily about the pros and cons of mixing fact and fiction. Truman Capote and Jayson Blair might have a very nice conversation about this topic.
A Quiz for the Intelligentsia
Remember when Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? was the biggest show on television? No? Nevermind… Anyway, this essay is really about one of the greatest British TV quiz shows, one that probably is too smart for American TV.
Turn the Beat Around
A short essay/rant about Program Directors and attitudes towards disco.
Disco Duck, Redux
It’s a musical form that was hated. Records were burned. It’s thought that it was stamped out. But it never died, and it’s bigger than ever.
A Long-Lost Record, Found
The story behind Double Dee & Steinski’s “Lessons 1, 2, 3″ — a rare classic.
In Praise of Albums
An essay and list of great albums. At some point after this was published, I stopped listening to albums. This was due partly because I couldn’t afford to buy them and partly due to downloading songs from the Internet. More recently, I have begun listening to albums again. Pendulum swings…
Sharp Shooting
The cop movie genre is pretty firmly established, but let’s take a look back over thirty years to a simpler time and the greatest car chase ever.
Two Generations: Apart, Together
“But how come it worked? I mean, like, what are you?” “I’m Lloyd Dobler.” The life and times of Mr. Dobler examined, and a search for connections across the Generation Gap.
It’s (not) A Small World, After All
A meditation on cultural globalization, on the occasion of ABC News’ coverage of the “millennium,” which it wasn’t. The Willennium, maybe.
The Boomin’ System
The ineffable, inescapable sound of the boom, boom boom. An examination of automobile audio assault.
All About E — and other vowels…
At the time, there was a burst of publicity on the dangers of ecstasy and coverage of the rave scene where it is consumed. We take a look at music and other drugs.
The Grand Masters at Work
Americans seem to really love abuse as a leadership style, especially in business and sports. They reward such behavior. Bobby Knight got into trouble for his management style, but how does he rank up against one of the great abusive people of our times? Witness the abuse-off and You Make the Call!
Not That Innocent
There are some who might say that analyzing someone as popular as Britney Spears is just a leap upon the bandwagon. But it is precisely the most popular figures most in need of some analysis. The strange illicit love that dare not be named, is named at last.
I A La Mode
A look at Japanese cell phone culture, with a highlight on NTT DoCoMo’s i-mode service. It seemed like that culture might be coming to America, but it never happened. Who knew we’d get BlackBerries instead?