Dennis Hopper: He Made Our World More Weird And Wonderful
Sean MurphySo cancer finally succeeded in cutting short the odd and inimitable life of Dennis Hopper. That is a shame, of course, although we would probably be wise to give thanks…
Memorial Day*
I. I'll Never Get Out Of These Blues Alive Cyrus has never actually discussed his brief stint in the army that took him to Vietnam. On a couple of…
Can-Utility and the Krauthammers
Well, when you anoint yourself King Canute, you mustn't be surprised when your subjects expect you to command the tides. So saith the cretinous Charles Krauthammer in a piece that, unfortunately,…
“Better call on evolution” or, Our Cultural Koyaanisqatsi
ON THIS DAY: On May 25, 1925, John T. Scopes was indicted in Tennessee for teaching Darwin's theory of evolution. I always enjoy the chance to invoke the incomparable Bill…
Mostly Other People Do The Killing or, The Shape of Jazz To Come
Best band name ever? It has to be way up there. What makes it even better is that this is the name of a jazz band. A jazz band that…
The Ballad of Bonnie & Clyde or, Art Improving Upon Life
ON THIS DAY On May 23, 1934, bank robbers Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were shot to death in a police ambush as they were driving a stolen Ford Deluxe…
The World Cup Is Coming
Mundial de Futbol* Tomaso sat down to watch the day’s action. He had missed several crucial games from the 1990 tournament because, like most men, the extraordinary physics and logistics…
Freedom Riders
ON THIS DAY On May 20, 1961, a white mob attacked a busload of "Freedom Riders" in Montgomery, Ala., prompting the federal government to send in United States marshals to…
The Immortal Wayne Cochran or, The Copycat Sex Machine
You know what the best part of that picture is? Everything. And now you are probably thinking: wow, is that guy for real? Oh, he's real. And we have footage. (Huge…
The Souder and the Fury
Yes, there is nothing new under the sun but you sure never get used to the smell. Check it: Rep. Mark Souder, the Indiana Republican who resigned today over…