Could someone please explain to us who these inmates are and how they’re doing such a spot-on rendition of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”?
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America used to be the tallest country in the world. Literally. From the days of the Revolution to the World Wars, the average American towered over the average citizens of other nations. But that height dominance has faded. Now, we stand as tall as young adults in Europe and Asian countries. Back in 1850, most Europeans stood 2 and 1/2 inches from many Americans. But does height matter?
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I spend an exorbitant amount of time extolling the virtues of brand new bands and previewing debut albums by up-and-coming artists. And that’s great fun—there’s nothing quite like the excitement of discovering something new. But I’ve noticed that after the first flush of romance with a band, I (and most of the general public, for that matter) have a tendency to give up and move on to the next Next Big Thing. With the speed of the Internet and the torrent of new bands bursting out of garages every day, it’s become harder and harder to care about an artist’s career. But in the last few weeks many of the most interesting new releases have been third or fourth or tenth albums by familiar artists, and you know what? They’ve been some of the best of those artists’ careers! That’s why I thought I’d dedicate this Singles Mix-er to exploring some tracks off of these new records by old artists. After all, it’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks, but if he is able to master one, shouldn’t he get a treat? Read more…
The Art of Fiction by David Lodge
You’ve read fantasy books. You’ve read mystery books, romance novels, sci-fi, and a good amount of the classics—even those you weren’t too sure you completely “got” (or partially Sparknoted along the way). What’s left?
The Art of Fiction by David Lodge (Penguin Books) is a must-read for anybody who wants to further their understanding of all novels they will read in the future. You’re probably rolling your eyes, thinking, “Yeah right, who wants to read about writing?” Oh, but you do.
It’s a good time to be a Harry Potter fan. The final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, comes out in a few short weeks and wraps up the saga of the boy wizard who has become a pop culture phenomenon. The latest film installment, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, marks the shift that began at the end of the last movie, in which the impish fun of the early days of Hogwarts has been eclipsed by the terrifying threat posed by Harry’s recently reincarnated nemesis, Lord Voldemort. In comparison to the books, the films have tended to be a bit of a mixed bag – so how does this one stack up? Read more…
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