“The new compact synths resembled an orchestra in a box; you didn’t need to have a whole band of instrumentalists. Suddenly pop was packed with duos who divided labour neatly between the composer-operator, and the singer-lyricist: Eurythmics, Yazoo, Tears For Fears, Blancmange, Pet Shop Boys. The shape of a synth-pop outfit was subversive, or at [...]

I long for the days when mainstream dramatic television made a point of lecturing its viewers. Owing much to the ideology of government-issued “educational” films of the previous two decades, producers and networks, mainly during the glut of dramas that appeared during the late 70’s/early 80’s, would often take a schoolteacher’s stance on a hot-button [...]

Today’s Salon.com has the first in what promises to be a very interesting 4-part series about the increasing visibility yet astounding secrecy of Scientology. Apparently Cruise’s string of fascinatingly obnoxious behavior lately is a result of his ascending to the level of “OT-VII” within the cultish religion. It’s worth clicking through the advertisement.

Also, last [...]

I have a confession to make. I came very close to crying at the end of the final episode of the BBC’s “The Office.” No spoilers here for those who haven’t had the pleasure of seeing it, but the remarkable balance of humor, empathy and pathos it elicited I had never before experienced, and I [...]