Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is a story of childhood adventure and, as such, the story's titular hero finds himself in a number of troublesome predicaments, usually as a result of his own childishly unchecked curiosity. Through Tom's adventures in overcoming these predicaments, Twain paints a remarkably accurate picture of the joys, fears, and trials [...]
Bloom & Breathe
Given my ties to the band, I suppose I should start out by saying that I am, obviously, biased in favor of all things Gates. If that's too close a bond for you, that's fine. You're more than welcome to head somewhere else on the internet to read any number of glowing reviews of Bloom [...]
An Interview with Kevin Dye of Gates
Given the occasion, I'm going off of schedule a bit here with a special Friday music post. I've been a big fan of the band Gates for a long time. Their thunderous brand of post-rock is emotionally and intellectually engaging and basically embodies everything that I love about music. It also doesn't hurt that their vocalist/lyricist/guitarist [...]
I Paid For That? Super Bombad Racing
When I was in high school, students in the state of Michigan were required to spend a couple of days each year taking the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) test. Though the exact details elude me, I recall that one or two high school grade levels were not obligated to take the test each year. So on [...]
The Turn of the Screw
Throughout middle school, high school, and then college, I read and re-read an old hand-me-down copy of the Edgar Allen Poe collection Tales of Mystery a number of times. Like a lot of teenagers, I loved Poe. He and his work were dark and creepy and fascinating. And though it's been a long time since I read [...]
A Publishing Schedule?
I'm trying something new. Which is really something old. It worked for a while. And then I got tired of it and quit. So here we are again, at the beginning, thinking of starting over. All of that is nonsense unless you're me (which you're not), so let me be more clear: I'm thinking of [...]
A Brief History of the Paradox
With A Brief History of the Paradox, Dr. Roy Sorenson presents a relatively chronological development of the paradox and while the good doctor does his best to punch up the material, the subject matter's inherent dryness overcomes all. As any undergrad will tell you, philosophy can get boring in a hurry. Once you get past [...]
The Title Track
Meghan Trainor's debut EP Title arrives on the scene squarely at the intersection of contemporary pop and nostalgia. Like a lot of its pop contemporaries, the album is heavily processed and rigidly structured with everything in its appointed place to an almost mechanical degree. And yet the backbone of the EP is its doo-wop inspired, throwback-to-the-'50s [...]
The Kindle Dilemma: Update
I have been defeated. Capitalism has won. I bought a Kindle. All hail technology.
She Is Beautiful
First things first: I highly recommend Michael Chabon's The Mysteries of Pittsburgh. Go. Read it. Oddly enough, my initial response was less rosy. After a few pages I didn't much care for the narrator's voice. By page 50 I was at least comfortable with it. And by page 92 I loved it. At the risk [...]
Songs & Stories 