Doing everything you do, in a skirt, or, Some thoughts on being a girl, doing boy things
1. A few days ago, Tim Carmody sent James Fallows’ wonderful “Throwing Like a Girl” my way. In typically superb Fallows form, he unpacks and challenges what it means to “throw like a girl,” and why, if it’s not exactly gender specific (because plenty of women throw correctly) it’s still largely female examples we see … Continue reading
The butternut squash battle
An indeterminate amount of time ago, my aunt gave me a big butternut squash from her garden. I thanked her and acted excited like any good niece should, but I was a little nervous. Not only had I never cooked butternut squash before, but I wasn’t even sure that I liked it. I hemmed and … Continue reading
December 6-11, 2010
It’s brilliant, it’s joyful, and it may have arrived in a spaceship. It’s A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector, and Mike Vincent tells you all about it in “Wall of Christmas”
Comic book superheroes can make for great summer blockbusters, but superhero films can also go so, so wrong. To help keep you on track, read Gavin Craig’s “Four rules for a successful superhero film”
Gavin Craig talks to Extra Lives: Why Video Games Matter author Tom Bissell about Bissell’s ten favorite video games of 2010. Read “The Bissell 2010 top ten”
In “Flipside,” Rosemary Van Deuren writes about the best actor you know by face but not by name, John Cazale. Read “The strong weak man”
In “Rounding Third,” Angela Vasquez-Giroux backs up Tigers General Manager Dave Dombrowski in his snubbing of now-overpaid, not-ready-for-the-American-League former Phillies outfielder Jayson Werth. Read “For what it’s Werth”
In “The F Word,” Jill Kolongowski tests her patience with some slow-cooker chili. Read “Three-hundred tomato chili”
Wall of Christmas
What comes to mind when you hear the name Phil Spector? Is it the hair? Is it the fact that he is nuts? Is it the fact that he shot that lady in his driveway? Or it is his music, the Wall of Sound, the Ronettes, Let It Be, or his work with John Lennon … Continue reading
Four rules for a successful superhero film
As Kevin Mattison pointed out a couple of weeks ago, it’s really tough to make a video game work as a movie, but we’ve been fortunate in the past several years to have some really great movies based on comic books. Based on a long personal history of comic book reading, and more than a … Continue reading
Tom Bissell’s 2010 top ten
Tom Bissell is the author of Extra Lives: Why Video Games Matter, one of Amazon.com’s 10 best nonfiction books of 2010. Since my gameplay tends to skew towards older games, re-releases, and games sold in red “Greatest Hits” packaging, I asked him via email for his 10 favorite games from 2010. 1. Metro 2033 XBox … Continue reading
The strong weak man
There’s just something in that face that takes you into an area that’s very dark, personally dark, and heartbroken. —Sidney Lumet (director, Dog Day Afternoon) I’ve had a crush on John Cazale since I first saw him in Dog Day Afternoon (1975) when I was 15. He’s the kind of man you want to protect … Continue reading
The dogs’ days are over
So, my Terriers didn’t make it.
Twitter is abuzz with all the reasons it didn’t work—the title was confusing, the time slot was terrible, etc. But though I already miss the show and think its cancelation was a big mistake, I’m also willing to accept this decision. As much as it hurts to give up such a deftly written and acted program in this, the age of Bridalplasty and Skating With the Stars, I have to agree with Corey Barker to an extent and simply appreciate the gift of its one pitch-perfect and high quality season.
As my husband and I wax nostalgic concerning what we love about Terriers, we find that it reminds us of a tightly written book or novella. A modern day breezy noir (could it be a beach noir? daytime noir?), the dialogue is complex and playful, the characters quietly heroic, the adventures satisfying—all in a tight little package. Do I think the show had the gas to fuel another season with the same level of success? Sure. However, I’ve already constructed a little space in my heart that houses Terriers just as it is—a perfectly quirky and lovable space for a perfectly quirky and lovable story.
Pushing a show to epic proportions, stretching it across season after season, squeezing every penny out of its very existence is so cliché, so LOST. If anything, didn’t Terriers teach us that quality people and stories need not be behemoth or brobdingnagian? As a woman who is currently cuddling her fuzzy and beautiful rescue pup as she types, I can tell you that a scruffy little terrier, though obviously small in size, can easily be just enough.
Watch Terriers on amazon.com or itunes.com. Recent episodes can be found on hulu.com.
For what it’s Werth
Detroit Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said today that the Tigers were never in the hunt for Jayson Werth, formerly of the Philadelphia Phillies and one of the coveted free agents up for grabs this offseason. Ladies and gentlemen, if you’ve ever doubted the wisdom of Dombo (not to be confused with the elephant, Dumbo) … Continue reading
The war against Christmas music
While writing my pieces on holiday music I dug out an old mix CD (remember those?) I have been making in one form or another over the past few years. I tried to collect tunes that were different than the usual, overdone Christmas tunes that ruin your radio flipping or casual shopping experiences. I had fun with those mixes, lots of fun. Over the past few years as the so-called “War Against Christmas” was being drummed up by propagandists, I thought the only way to describe this mix of new, fun Holiday tunes was The War Against Christmas Music.
This year’s mix is different than previous year’s mixes, some songs were added, some were dropped and the running time was capped at right around one hour. Perfect.
Please download the mix, burn it onto a CD for the car or listen to it on your chosen digital music device. Leave feedback if you will or just listen and enjoy the songs. And feel free to comment on songs that are missing or your own favorite Christmas music. Consider it a gift from us here at “Dysphonia” to you, our four loyal readers during this Holiday season.
And always remember, we say “Happy Holidays” this month because there are more than just one every year. Oh, one more thing. Yes the mix is supposed to begin the way it does. . .
