The Extraordinary True Life of George Hogg

It’s easy to understand the attraction of putting the extraordinary true life of George Hogg to film. An Englishman bearing witness to and working in war-torn 1930s China, Hogg became the headmaster of a failing school and grew to succeed where his predecessors had not. Fearing the Japanese army’s advance, Hogg resolved to lead his … Read more

Beautiful Resistance

Remember beauty? The breath-taking, awe-inspiring kind? Take a pause to remember. And remember what followed the initial encounter—the inescapable impulse to share. Did you fumble for your phone or camera to snap a picture for posterity right away? Did you turn to the person next to you, excitedly asking, "did you see…?" or verbally pointing, … Read more

POWER: Yes, there is a PRICE YOU PAY

I used to think that having POWER meant a better night’s rest and less worrying. I was again Wrong. In MY life I get to see a lot of things that most people don’t get to see. And there are times when I am so grateful for that window of lights, cameras, action — and … Read more

Shock Me, Baby, One More Time

SPECIAL EVENTA Toast to Tesla No, not the hair band from the late ’80s, although I do happen to know a few people who would probably be into that. Tonight’s event at the Bakken is dedicated to one of America’s greatest electrical engineers, Nikola Tesla, inventor of the radio. Sample complimentary appetizers and wines from … Read more

Are All Critics Obsolete?

Steadily as the American dollar, the value of informed opinions is decreasing. As information becomes ever more accessible and democratized, thanks to the likes of Google and Wikipedia and Things White People Like, the necessity for critics — previously our cultural gatekeepers — seems to be vanishing. Whether it’s food, music, or movies, the corresponding … Read more

The Well-Lubricated Fall of the Middle Class

All praise be to the cyclopean gods of old for finally bringing the nigh interminable local and national Democratic nomination process to a close. For while sentences involving Andy Rooney, sodomy and bestiality, not to mention flag lapel pins and innuendo involving sniper fire, roll comfortably off the tongue of B-grade actors on late-night Cinemax, … Read more

Here’s One for the Open Road

Jason Shannon likes to think of his band as a car. "A car Steve McQueen drove," he says. "An old ’60s or ’70s hot rod. Not a badass car. Just a car with good integrity. Something that’s built to last, but not showing itself off. A Classic. "Something like that," he laughs. The car metaphor … Read more

More June Book Releases

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