Reconditioned, On Sports. I Know You’re Tired; I’m Tired, Too.

We all have our vices.

Tragedy Beyond Explanation. Arrowhead, December 2012.

Mommy’s little turkey.

Fiona Apple: The Idler Wheel…

Fiona Apple’s fourth album is a marvel.

Justin Townes Earle, Live at The Gray Eagle, 5/23/12

This is what Justin Townes Earle looks like when he’s really into his songs. He has long hair now. In case you were wondering.

I’ll admit that I was a little apprehensive about going to see Justin Townes Earle on his most recent tour, in support of his new Memphis-soaked album, Nothing’s Going to Change the Way You Feel About Me Now. The album, while palatable enough, just hasn’t stuck with me at all. This spring I’ve found myself spinning Beach House’s Bloom and Sleigh Bells’ Reign of Terror; both of which stand in stark contrast to JTE’s almost bland aping of Americana.

But the tickets were only $14 dollars and Townes Earle is a great songwriter. So, despite the state perpetual exhaustion that I’ve been in over the past three months, I decided to go. And I’m glad I did.

Foster Fable: The Kid with a Bike

 

I, Nathan, look at The Kid with a Bike not only as a cinephile, but as foster parent for the past four months. 

The Encarta Dictionary defines the word “foster” as a transitive verb meaning, 1. Mature Child – to provide a child with care and upbringing, 2. Develop Something – to encourage the development of something, 3. Keep Alive Feeling or Thought – to keep a feeling or thought alive. The dictionary goes further, “Giving or receiving a home and parental care and upbringing, usually on a short-term basis, although unrelated by blood or adoption. Foster care is provided for children whose natural parents are dead, absent, or unfit or unable to look after them.”

This is the technical definition, and there’s nothing wrong with any of these given meanings. They all cover some aspect of the foster experience; what they don’t get at, though, is the true essence. One can give a home, but that does not mean the home is received with grace. One can encourage the development of a child, but that doesn’t mean the child is interested in being developed; and the feeling that we are keeping alive – a sense of family and belonging – is nearly impossible to hold on to when the child knows that his or her biological parents are unable to give them the real thing. To foster a child is to care for. 

For Don. 1946-2012.

I would drive up to my buddy’s house, unannounced, bored, perhaps, desiring the company of one of my oldest, best friends.  I’d park my hand-me-down Jeep in the roundabout driveway, power down the ignition, clamber out of the driver’s seat, slam the door, and lock it with a strong thumb against an ancient key-button.  I’d pace past the hemmed bushes, sneakers on the concrete path, eyes on the auburn door.  Ring the doorbell, were it working at the time, or knuckle a knock against the heavy oak.  More often than not, he would greet me there.  “Oh, hey, Tyler.  Looking for James?”

Linfusion: ESPN, And What Happens When Words Go Wrong

Social media exploded this past weekend, or at least the sporting side of it.

Tail on Donkey: 2012 Oscar Predictions

I’m going to contradict myself a lot in this piece. The Oscars won’t broadcast for another week, so you’ve got plenty of time to get over it.

Oh, and the only thing I’ll say about the hosts: Billy Crystal is nice, but they really should have sprung the cash to get Kermit the Frog.

When I survey the universe of movies, I find that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, with their annual Oscar awards, represents the braying ass of cinema. Forever kicking up a bunch of dust and making unintelligible noises, I think my comparison is apt. The organization is little but an ancient cloister of nepotism and poor taste, packaged once a year for us in the most mind-numbingly tedious awards show known to mankind. HE-HAW!

Whitney Houston. 1963-2012.

Whitney Houston soundtracked such a significant portion of my childhood.

Dumb Love: Like Crazy

When you are young and you are in love, you do stupid, stupid things. Reason and logic mean nothing to the mind in love; emotions rule every waking moment of your life, and they dictate every decision from the smallest to the greatest. Young, dumb love can keep you from thinking, at least in practical terms. This universal truth is on full display in Drake Doremus’ Like Crazy. And if you’ve ever done something incredibly stupid in the name of love (most all of us, yes?), then you will feel a lot of pain and sympathy as you make your way through this movie.