April 4th, 2021 I watched a movie called The Last Blockbuster on Netflix the other night, and even though it was, on the surface, about the literal last Blockbuster Video in Bend, Oregon, and about how the company itself rose and fell, it ended up being about a lot more. It’s about Sandi, the managerContinue reading “The Last Blockbuster Generation”
Tag Archives: Pop Culture
Swimming in the Schadenfraude
April 1st, 2021 One of the first TV shows I remember watching with my mom was America’s Funniest Home Videos. This show became an integral part of who I am as a human being, even inspiring the first chapter of my first book, ingeniously titled “America’s Funniest Home Videos.” If you don’t know, there’s aContinue reading “Swimming in the Schadenfraude”
Star Bored
March 26th, 2021 What still puts you in awe? On July 20th, 1969, human beings from the planet Earth, improbably and against substantial odds, landed on the Moon and took a walk on it. To say it was a big deal would short change the actual events. Over half a billion people watched it unfoldContinue reading “Star Bored”
The Ghost of You
March 21st, 2021 I’m used to losing little things all the time. I have to let go of small stuff on a daily, sometimes hourly basis. In less than a year, I lost my job, a parent and my car. I would like to think that my practice of loss would keep me conditioned toContinue reading “The Ghost of You”
Famous Last Blurbs
March 15th, 2021 This is going to be the last substantial post I make for a while, because this is the last post that’s going to make it in the book. It’s weird because some of you will read these words on a screen and some of you will read them on paper, and thisContinue reading “Famous Last Blurbs”
Culture Club
March 11th, 2021 I don’t believe in “Cancel Culture.” I’m not saying there aren’t people out there who want things removed or ended because of their subjective views. I’m saying I don’t believe in the phrase “Cancel Culture.” It’s made up. Used by a group of people to further seed divide in a world that,Continue reading “Culture Club”
Apples to WAP
March 4th, 2021 A teacher is explaining to her young student how to properly compare things in order to increase understanding. “What is WAP?” she asks the child. “WAP is an explicit hip-hop song whose target demographic is a mature, adult audience who appreciates both the genre and the subject matter,” the young man repilies.Continue reading “Apples to WAP”
Po-Tay-Toh, Po-Tah-Toh
March 2nd, 2021 *Sigh* The best thing we can do is learn something, right? Generally, on the internet, the people I hear complain about something the loudest are the exact same people who say everyone else complains too much and are too easily offended. The Potato Head Scandal is the closest to actual satire ofContinue reading “Po-Tay-Toh, Po-Tah-Toh”
Boldly, With Love
February 20th, 2021 There is something about a direct kind of love that is irreplaceable. Last winter, I bought this long-sleeve shirt. One of the first times I wore it was at a convention in Hastings, the very last one my mom came to. She looked at my shirt and told me how beautiful sheContinue reading “Boldly, With Love”
Hunger
February 10th, 2021 A Broaster made me cry today. Let me go back. So I was driving down to Faribault this morning and thinking about an episode of I Love Lucy. In this episode, Lucy and Ethel work as inspectors in a chocolate factory. At first, they’re doing just fine, focusing on each piece asContinue reading “Hunger”
The Den 