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Why SNL’s “porn star” sketches work in spite of themselves
Why SNL’s “porn star” sketches work in spite of themselves
Making fun of porn stars would typically be the epitome of “punching down.” Some women pick this profession knowing full well what they’re…
Beau Dure
Jul 7, 2020
Coldplay’s “Fix You”: Condescending or reassuring?
Musically, the Coldplay song Fix You is stunning, especially in the last two minutes. The guitar plays a repeated pattern on two strings —…
Beau Dure
Oct 7, 2020
And the rest ...
Best songs of the 21st century (so far)
Best songs of the 21st century (so far)
Need a little pick-me-up now?
Beau Dure
Jan 24, 2021
Good news: Journalism is finally adapting
Good news: Journalism is finally adapting
The decline in journalism — actual journalism, not talking heads on cable — has little to do with the journalism. It’s the business…
Beau Dure
Jan 20, 2021
Tutors needed
Great idea here from the former Secretary of Education.
Beau Dure
Jan 4, 2021
Is today’s music that bad? Yes. Yes, it is.
Is today’s music that bad? Yes. Yes, it is.
Is every generation doomed to think the next generation’s music is worse?
Beau Dure
Dec 31, 2020
Third-party Top 10s for 2020
Third-party Top 10s for 2020
Joe Biden won, no matter how much Donald Trump’s most brainwashed followers want to believe otherwise.
Beau Dure
Dec 23, 2020
On music and Christian socialism …
What a quote here from singer-songwriter Julian Baker, who considers herself Christian even though some alleged “Christians” would…
Beau Dure
Dec 6, 2020
S-O-L-A, solar … so, so, so, so, soooo-lar …
S-O-L-A, solar … so, so, so, so, soooo-lar …
Virginia’s reputation as a “dark state” is getting brighter.
Beau Dure
Dec 2, 2020
I miss the monolith already …
https://www.npr.org/2020/11/29/939882228/metallic-monolith-in-utah-vanishes-just-as-mysteriously-as-it-appeared
Beau Dure
Nov 30, 2020
Today’s good news on COVID-19: Dolly and immunity
Is there anything Dolly Parton can’t do?
Beau Dure
Nov 18, 2020
Hey, remember the climate?
Biden has already had phone calls about it with major European leaders, and the goal seems to be an all-out blitz upon taking office.
Beau Dure
Nov 11, 2020
Artifact: A beautiful Buggles song and many trivia questions
Artifact: A beautiful Buggles song and many trivia questions
What was the first video played on MTV? And how wonderful was that song?
Beau Dure
Oct 23, 2020
The beauty of “Your Hand in Mine,” even in beer ads
The beauty of “Your Hand in Mine,” even in beer ads
One of the many great things about the existence of Friday Night Lights is that introduced the world to Explosions in the Sky, a band that…
Beau Dure
Oct 21, 2020
We landed on a freaking asteroid
This publication is all about creativity and progress, and while a nation holds its breath to see if we can dump a petulant tyrant and his…
Beau Dure
Oct 21, 2020
Trite sayings and “toxic positivity”
Trite sayings and “toxic positivity”
It’s fun to make fun of inspirational sayings. They’re superficial. They don’t offer real solutions. They’re often divorced from reality.
Beau Dure
Oct 19, 2020
Empathy vs. cruelty and hate
Empathy vs. cruelty and hate
Caring isn’t weakness. Responsibility for others is strength. Kindness and respect for basic humanity isn’t complicated, whether you’re an…
Beau Dure
Oct 16, 2020
Did Jack White’s SNL performance save rock and roll?
Did Jack White’s SNL performance save rock and roll?
White’s stripped-down trio used a guitar, a bunch of guitar pedals, a bass and a backwards-facing drum kit to tear it up.
Beau Dure
Oct 16, 2020
“The Joshua Tree”: Best of the ‘90s?
So says a BBC Radio 2 poll.
Beau Dure
Oct 9, 2020
What’s “bias”?
One of the oldest pieces I’ve ever read on media bias is still the best.
Beau Dure
Oct 2, 2020
Things to bear in mind before you judge someone
Things to bear in mind before you judge someone
We all get angry. We all forget everyone else is human. We all say things we would never say if we knew the whole story.
Beau Dure
Sep 28, 2020
The Battle of Yavin, as written by Biggs Darklighter
The Battle of Yavin, as written by Biggs Darklighter
Our hero overcomes the bungling of Rebel leaders and Luke Skywalker to save the galaxy and usher in an era of peace and love.
Beau Dure
Sep 24, 2020
Why don’t people on “Tiny House Hunters” just get RVs?
Why don’t people on “Tiny House Hunters” just get RVs?
Few shows walk the Spinal Tap line between clever and stupid as well as HGTV’s Tiny House Hunters.
Beau Dure
Sep 7, 2020
Is Wall Street in denial about who’s behind the stock bubble?
Is Wall Street in denial about who’s behind the stock bubble?
No, it’s not just tech stocks and a vaccine that’ll come any day now.
Beau Dure
Aug 21, 2020
Can we all agree on trying to learning something from Europe?
Can we all agree on trying to learning something from Europe?
No, we can’t do everything European countries do. They’re smaller. Many are homogeneous, though less so than they used to be, with less of…
Beau Dure
Aug 6, 2020
School and college: Can we just do what we can do and not do what we can’t?
School and college: Can we just do what we can do and not do what we can’t?
Give some credit to your college faculty and local school boards. They’re trying to figure out how to have some semblance of school this…
Beau Dure
Aug 3, 2020
Do-Nothing Congress: REPEAL the Laws of Thermaldynamics!
Do-Nothing Congress: REPEAL the Laws of Thermaldynamics!
A Twitter timeline in the not-too-distant future …
Beau Dure
Jul 20, 2020
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