Two weeks ago I got into a (semi-heated) discussion about this season of “Parks & Rec” versus this season of “30 Rock”; my conversational partner was frustrated with what she perceived as the re-infantilizing of Leslie Knope on the former show, whilst very much enjoying the latter, while my position was exactly the opposite.  I’m [...]

Be Madonna.

From TNC: And I wonder if the problem of African-American History is that it so coldly and cruelly counters the American narrative. I have spent the past two decades thinking about that history and it’s ultimately made me more of a believer in the American project, not less of one. But that’s a relatively recent [...]

Jingles: my titties hurt me: hahahahahahaha   did you get a purple nurple last night? Jingles: nah   too many pushups yesterday me: oh i see   you got the MANLY titty-hurt Jingles: yes   the manliest   these manboobs aint going to sprout themselves   at least, not in a sexy way

When cultural gatekeepers turn on one another, things can get ugly… or kind of interesting, as in this piece from n+1 on the history of Pitchfork.  (Is elitism additive, or multiplicative?)  I freely admit that my interest in the essay is motivated largely by selfishness, as I have tried for over a year to learn [...]

So, at long last: my final post on “Buffy”.  (Posts one, two, and three, for those who need a refresher.)   Before delving into any of the show’s politics, this much needs to be said: season seven — the show’s last — is terrible.  Not just mediocre, or bad, but truly, genuinely shit-tastic, such that [...]

I have been meaning for several weeks now to post my final piece about “Buffy” (which I finished re-watching), but I was sick over the holidays and, since my return to Oakland, I have been busy BLOWING UP ALL OVER THE INTERWEBS.   (Well, sort of.)   I wrote this piece about Cleveland for RustWire, [...]

Yo! Welcome to Science! — Episode 1

In spite of record unemployment, many employers in the US have been making the claim for the past few years that, in fact, their lack of hiring is due not to their own unwillingness to hand out jobs like candy — no, it’s because we feeble employees just aren’t up to snuff!  Kevin Drum puts [...]