I really enjoy your magazine—except for the fact that you apparently worship the insufferably smug Al Franken as some kind of god [“Al Franken Is a Big Fat Genius,” October]. He impresses me not at all, and never has. I never thought Franken and Davis were even remotely amusing when they were on Saturday Night … Read more
It was great to see Brenda Weiler’s 400 Bar show recommended [Broken Clock, November], but her most recent album wasn’t recorded or produced in her new hometown of Portland, as the blurb states. It was recorded in Minneapolis at City Cabin by local talent Darren Jackson (Kid Dakota, Alva Star), John Hermanson (Alva Star, Storyhill), … Read more
Your article about music licensing [“All Shook Down,” November] was timely and important, but I’d like to make some additional points. All business owners should be aware that playing copyrighted music without permission or a license is a violation of federal copyright law. If such a violation went to court, the violator would have a … Read more
My teenage daughter hurt my feelings the other day, and this bizarre thing happened. The light in the room shifted, there was a faint static, and a tremor ran through my body. Suddenly, I was channeling my brother-in-law’s Jewish mother (odd, since she is still alive and well in Louisville). “Sophie,” I heard myself lament. … Read more
Excellent article on leaf blowers [“Rake Against the Machine,” November], just one of so many completely unnecessary, stupid new power tools and technologies that we can live without. Most of the dunderheads that operate them have no idea that the leaves under the shrubbery (mulch) are necessary and protective and should be left there to … Read more
Aw, hell. You won’t believe what I got myself into. So I’ll just tell you. I’m going to be a guest speaker at my old high school for career day. Delicious irony #1: I never completed high school.Delicious irony #2: Either they never bothered to check this fact, or they don’t care. My dilemma came … Read more
I was appalled to see your article on foie gras [Down the Hatch, November]. Animal activists have been working tirelessly to stop the production of foie gras because of its inhumane treatment of geese and ducks. Many states and countries have passed laws against it, and if you knew how they make foie gras, you’d … Read more
It’s not just women, of course; it takes two not to tango. So why do married couples have such a hard time talking about sex? Part of the problem, I realize now, is that women are uncomfortable talking about sex apart from all the other things that go into a relationship. Men have an easier … Read more
American Guitar Stallions, by Keith PilleReviewed by Keith Pille I come to bury American Guitar Stallions, not to praise it. Which is good, because burial, not praise, is what this stinking sack of crap merits. Deep burial. In a fortified and lead-sealed vault. American Guitar Stallions is easily among the worst novels of the new … Read more
Don’t ever let anybody tell you that fabulousness can’t be found in the first-tier suburbs. Since her cabaret debut in 1996, the former beauty queen and current post-office switchboard operator known as Miss Richfield 1981 has been wowing audiences with her combination of civic boosterism and flamboyant fashion sense. (Sometimes she answers to the name … Read more