March 2005 Archives
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Birnbaum v.
Tom Bissell
Writers often imagine editors as dolts with hearts of coal and brains of corn; writers, frequently, are self-absorbed paranoid ignorant dilletantes. A conversation about how the publishing system really works and the life of a Celtics fan who only loves Bird.
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Listening
New Order, Waiting for the Sirens’ Call
Except for 1985’s Low-Life and 1986’s Brotherhood, New Order has never been a band to release albums too frequently. Since their last proper release in fact—2001’s Get Ready—it’...
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Gary Benchley, Rock Star
Working on the Mix
Who would have guessed the rock dream involves lots of old-fashioned hard work? And why is it rarely a good idea to include a brass band on a rock album?
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Stories
Orientalism: Yes or No?
It’s one thing to be a Westerner with a healthy respect and admiration for Eastern cultures; it’s another to make your son wear a hijab to soccer practice in order to intimidate opponents. Pasha Malla helps us sort through a few case studies in Orientalism.
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People
Bill Keaggy
“A collector, maker, and breaker of things,” since 1997 Bill Keaggy has amassed a collection of over 700 grocery lists. Francis Raven talks with him about his collecting habits and why it is that nobody can spell “bannana” “bananna” “banana.”
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Letters From the Editor
Spring, Come Quickly
It’s almost springtime. Annually it seems like I wait a long time for spring to appear, pining for sunshine, and when it finally arrives it’s over a week...
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Personalities
The French Paradox
The French diet is back in the news—how do French women manage to enjoy chocolate, wine, cheese and bread without gaining weight? Several top French food bloggers weigh in on the phenomenon.
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The Education of Elisabeth Eckleman
Bright Eyes, Big City
Elisabeth Eckleman just left home, and has a lot of difficult decisions ahead of her. In this installment, Elisabeth goes to the Bright Eyes concert with her R.A. and continues to avoid her T.A. You decide what happens next.
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Personalities
Roundtable: Street Art
It’s art, it’s play, it’s political protest—no matter what it’s called, street art is all around us, changing the face of our cities when no one’s looking. So what is it exactly? We round up some of the legends of the scene to talk about the history of street art, and where it’s headed next.
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Of Recent Note
For Spring 2005
The stuff we’re into right now—including what we’re reading, hearing, watching, finding, eating, using, installing, applying, and, yes, even scratching this season.
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Opinions
Juiced
Can Congress get baseball to go cold turkey off steroids? And how many passionate pleas will it take? Our representative speaks, passionately and otherwise, rooting out those who seek enhancements of every kind.
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Reader Letters
Where’s the Winner?
I recently “browsed across” your First Tournament of Books and was pleased with the winner. Did you ever contact him, or hear from him, about this grand honor he has...
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Stories
Pledge of Allegiance
It’s pledge drive season again! And this time everybody’s getting in on the action. Matthew Baldwin sneaks into the studio and watches as those Social Security reforms take on an entirely different medium.
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Listening
British Sea Power, Open Season
In 2003 the boys in pith helmets released their debut album, The Decline and Fall of British Sea Power, which, in this reviewer’s opinion, was the finest album of that...
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Gary Benchley, Rock Star
Adjusting the Levels
When you’re recording a few songs with friends, it’s OK to slack around. When you’re recording a few songs with very expensive engineers, you better not flub that G sharp.
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Birnbaum v.
David Thomson
Lots of folks complain that the movies aren’t what they used to be, but not many people can tell you why. Our man of the north has a fascinating talk with film critic and writer David Thomson about the start of the art, Million Dollar Baby, and how Nicole Kidman went from bimbo to genius.
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Personalities
That’s My Vader…
Some days you’ve got it, other days you don’t. And some days, you’re the dark lord of the Sith. What it would be like if Darth Vader spent a day in his shoes, speaking only in memorable quotes from the original Star Wars.
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Gallery
The Barbers of New York
The Big Apple may have a million fancy restaurants and roped-off snobby clubs, but its the barbershops where the real schmoozing happens. Photographer and writer Lisa Whiteman visits a variety of New York salons and returns with a gallery and an essay.
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Stories
How Many Names Hath God?
No matter when we say the word God, whether in church or in vain, couldn’t we all use a couple synonyms for the all-mighty one? MICHAEL ROTTMAN examines the many possibilities, e.g., Abraham, or Clapton.
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Gallery
Side by Side
A cross-country journey reveals a new perspective when the trip photos are picked over. An interview with photographer Bridget Walsh Regan, who presents a collection of images, juxtaposed.
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Personalities
Craigslist in Baghdad: Missed Connections
Some people are there to sell a cheap computer. Others to divulge a personal rant, but let’s face it: Most people go to Craigslist for the missed connections.
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Spoofs & Satire
A Different World
Season one of The Cosby Show if Cliff Huxtable habitually drugged and subsequently fondled select bit players.
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Reader Letters
Xanadu Is Unsinkable
Dear Morning News, I happened to bump into your article on Xanadu and Michael Beck (“The Love That We Came To Know”), and it was a great read. It was...
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Gary Benchley, Rock Star
Meet the Label
Are the acoustics to blame when some executive’s fancy stereo makes your demo sound like mush, or was it really mush in the first place? Can mush rule the world?
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Birnbaum v.
Robert McCrum
Few writers have all their books in print; extremely few have almost a hundred in circulation. A conversation with Robert McCrum about his recent definitive biography of P.G. Wodehouse and the difficulties in pinning down a man who liked to blend in.