2006: Not Believing The Hype

We at the Kugelmass Episodes are proud to present our first-ever edition of Don’t Believe The Hype, an annual list of the top five deep disappointments. We estimate your savings at, bare minimum,… Continue reading →

Lolita and Morality, Karaoke, and Joining The Valve

Dear readers, I’ve been getting some e-mails and instant messages about when I was going to respond to a very annoyed person (named “Steven Augustine”) over at the Valve, who has been questioning… Continue reading →

2006 In Music: The Top 3

Wherein I finish the list of my Top 15 which began on Monday. 3. The Decemberists, The Crane Wife I remember having a conversation over Christmas with my father, where we talked about… Continue reading →

The Din Of The Day: Music In 2006

Here we go with my picks for the best, most interesting, most rewarding music of 2006. It’s the stuff that staked a claim to my heart even though I swore (as I have… Continue reading →

Overview of 2006: The Gloves Come Off

I’m sure you’ve noticed that the last few posts here have been about taste, a move which began with my recognition (way back in December) that the year was coming rapidly to a… Continue reading →

More on taste: Elvis and MySpace

The following is my response, posted first as a comment over at the Valve, to Bill Benzon’s interesting response to my essay on taste. I want to know objectively what’s there – wherever… Continue reading →

Special Christmas Edition Part 2: A Christmas Story

Since it happens that I posted something trying to defend A Christmas Carol against the infuriating, right-wing misreading of it offered on NPR, I might as well go belatedly to bat for that… Continue reading →

Cat Blogging Except With People Instead Of Cats

Dear readers, I have been traveling since before Christmas, and am delighted to have returned. Unfortunately, the combination of a plane flight and a very bad cold have left my voice in tatters,… Continue reading →