|
Arts and Culture Archive
|
|
| June 10, 2008 |
Mr. Spock, My Childhood Hero
Yes, that Spock. My mother thought he looked like Satan.
|
| March 20, 2008 |
My Bracket (and Lesser Things)
The Washington Post has my bracket; be a little patient with their web site. And I suggest three things to read about politics and/or education, in case you are one of those odd ducks who don't love college basketball.
|
| March 15, 2008 |
Fredette, Fairness, Fairlie, (Non)Fiction, and Further Thoughts
A miscellany of accumulated reading-induced thoughts, some about politics, some about sports, some about other things.
|
| February 16, 2008 |
Ah, the Humanity!
I could use a vacation. Show them you're the most important person in the room. And mind those foreseeable opposite consequences. (A veritable verbal mosaic of awareness ribbons, congressional deserters, cell phones, state and local legislators, defenseless wild bunnies and birdies, zealous residents, and boring neckwear.)
|
| February 13, 2008 |
Last-Minute Valentinish (and Other) Thoughts
A link to winning limericks. Some Valentine's Day thoughts. Things to read if you prefer politics. Something to watch if you prefer math. A note on delegate counts.
|
| February 1, 2008 |
The Genesis of "Groundhog Day (Observed)"
This official LocalCommentary.com decree changes the date on which Groundhog Day 2008 is celebrated, from February 2 to February 8, for reasons stated herein.
|
| January 14, 2008 |
NIE, AF, Gitmo, AF the Movie, and More
. . . including a lawnmower analogy and the phrase, "if headlines were fishes" . . .
|
| December 31, 2007 |
Christmas Music and Christmas Politics
The two don't really go together, but they coexist in my last blog post of the year, along with a bunch of Mormons, a former Southern Baptist minister, and some (other) really nice people.
|
| December 3, 2007 |
About Town: Music, Negotiations, Ballots, and Irrigation
Catching up . . . and some thoughts on the American Fork Symphony's latest concert.
|
| November 6, 2007 |
The Chance to Play Against Notre Dame
Not all the best sports writing is about baseball.
|
| October 30, 2007 |
Dolphin-Free Oil Now Available in American Fork
World Class Auto Service on Main Street welcomes a new neighbor. Will Good Earth Natural Foods reciprocate? It might be amusing.
|
| October 16, 2007 |
Meet the American Fork City Council Candidates, and Millie
The only thing these two topics have in common is that I mention them in the same blog post.
|
| September 18, 2007 |
La Vigna da Campania
"The Vineyard of Campania," that is, if my Italian is correct. (Warning: I have never learned Italian.)
|
| August 30, 2007 |
Utah Premier Brass
American Fork's summer concert series ends impressively.
|
| August 14, 2007 |
American Fork Notes: Music, Arts
A very good band, a positively amazing band, and a major advance behind the scenes for the local arts community.
|
| August 6, 2007 |
Concerts in the Park, and Bringing the Dead to Life in the Cemetery
You don't always have to pay for quality entertainment in American Fork.
|
| June 5, 2007 |
The Paul Burnside Band and Other Local Notes
A band, an empty seat, and a long-awaited improvement in American Fork.
|
| May 15, 2007 |
The Tsar's Singers
Four Russian men, four black robes, four music folders, and a tuning fork added up to something heavenly tonight.
|
| May 12, 2007 |
Random Smokin' Thoughts
First, I have to say positive things about the Utah Jazz, because 'tis the season. Then I present my two-part plan for a kinder, gentler, less littered society. Preview: It's a pair of truces.
|
| May 7, 2007 |
The Arts, the Jazz, the Debates, the Veto
Had I done any blogging at all last week, here are some things I might have blogged about.
|
| April 11, 2007 |
Congressman Cannon and Multiple Bloggers as Lab Rats, or An Uneasy Hybrid of Political Junkie and Web Geek
. . . But don't get the idea that I didn't enjoy it. It was interesting on several levels.
|
| April 10, 2007 |
Grab-Bag: Music, Vouchers, Freedom, and a Conservative Daydream
You might say it's leftover night. I happen to enjoy leftovers.
|
| April 3, 2007 |
The Bracket: Seventh Grade 1, Blogger 0
One more look at the bracket. I was vanquished by my daughter's seventh-grade class.
|
| April 3, 2007 |
Family Honk Evening
I knew the story of the Ugly Duckling, of course, but hadn't seen the musical. The bullfrog was standing ovation material.
|
| March 26, 2007 |
Bracket Watch: It Ain't Pretty
This quick summary of my bracketological incompetence has a shocking, pathetic confession at the end.
|
| March 19, 2007 |
More Madness
If you must know, though I haven't checked the math, I think I'm picking the winners of NCAA tournament games only very slightly better than would a trained chimp flipping a coin. That's the least of about three reasons why I don't bet on these things -- which is not even remotely my point.
|
| March 19, 2007 |
Monday Evening at the Historic American Fork City (Recital) Hall
A pleasant Monday evening concert for the family, in American Fork's newest recital venue.
|
| March 16, 2007 |
Basketball Heaven, Day Two
More of the same.
|
| March 15, 2007 |
Basketball Heaven, Day One
This isn't about politics. It's more serious than that.
|
| February 27, 2007 |
I Ran Away to Chicago -- in February!
I'd do it again, too. Art, pizza, Russian bookstores, a Chicago hot dog . . . And a flight delay led to an excellent lunch in Houston. (Note: This is not about politics. Not everything is, you know.)
|
| February 20, 2007 |
The Sublime and the Quotidian
Vocal Works, the Crescent Super Band, a Maynard Ferguson tribute, and a church talent show.
|
| February 14, 2007 |
A Little Valentine's Day Rerun
364 days ago, I offered a bit of advance help for this Valentine's Day.
|
| February 2, 2007 |
More Groundhog Day Lore
Limerick contest winners, a local groundhog alternative, and more.
|
| January 31, 2007 |
Groundhog Day Is Coming
Why Groundhog Day? What we're doing at my house. What you could do to celebrate the day. And a groundhog injustice in the making.
|
| January 19, 2007 |
Some Sample Limericks
I couldn't resist -- I didn't really try -- and I am quite unapologetic.
|
| January 12, 2007 |
More Local Notes
A quick report on the newly renovated City Hall, talk of two local jazz bands, and news of a skateboard park.
|
| January 9, 2007 |
An Italian Deli, a Classic Movie, and a Little Christmas Gift from the American Fork City Council
Tony's Italian Deli on Main Street in American Fork, that is; and The Princess Bride; and . . . well, read it for yourself.
|
| December 21, 2006 |
The Other Wise Man
Contemporary American chamber opera, professional wrestling, beauty, and power meet in my review of The Other Wise Man. (The production itself has all but one of these. Guess which.)
|
| December 18, 2006 |
Wasatch Winds Wow
Okay, that's too much alliteration, but they wowed me tonight at their Christmas concert.
|
| December 4, 2006 |
The American Fork Symphony's Christmas Concert
Here's my brief, selective review of tonight's concert, which I definitely enjoyed. Best of all were the vocal soloists. (Hats off, gentlemen. I said hats off!)
|
| December 1, 2006 |
Musings While Trying to Fly Home from Albany
Superb customer service, a unusual late-November lightning storm, and comments on upstate New York cuisine . . . Not very political at all, really.
|
| October 24, 2006 |
I'll Have My Longhair Music in Bright Orange, Please
I'm not a great fan of Halloween, but last evening's concert by Vocal Works, entitled "Wicked Good," was easily one of the best concerts I have attended in American Fork, besides being a lot of fun.
|
| October 14, 2006 |
Random Thoughts
Okay, so the North Koreans have nukes, the Iranians soon will have, we're having an epidemic of school shootings, and the words "Speaker Pelosi" have a shot at being used together quite a bit next year. That shouldn't mean we stop laughing, should it? Here are some mostly apolitical morsels to assist you.
|
| September 27, 2006 |
Locally: Five Short Notes
Broadband, 900 West, HDTV, Paris, and a meaningless statistic. Did you know lumpenproletariat is one word?
|
| September 26, 2006 |
People Will Say We're in Love . . .
Now that was a fun evening.
|
| September 20, 2006 |
I Blinked for Two Days, and Look What I Missed
I missed Talk Like a Pirate Day, a coup in Thailand, tax tweaks, and angry Muslims. I didn't miss a good cartoon or an undeservedly obscure anniversary.
|
| August 29, 2006 |
Another Pleasant Musical Evening in American Fork
In describing the last of the season's concerts in the park -- actually, in the amphitheater in the park -- I manage to use the words expatiate, toddlerhood, and Klingon. Beat that. I dare you.
|
| August 22, 2006 |
Concerts in the Park: Excellent!
A fine new community band, a renowned local brass band, and a young, local country singer shared the stage Monday in American Fork. Together, they made a fine musical evening.
|
| July 30, 2006 |
Beauty and Brains
Maybe it's by design. Maybe it just happened. In any case, there was an impressive improvement in an important detail. Apparently it is not fanciful to hope for beauty and brains.
|
| March 16, 2006 |
Basketball, Basketball, and More (NCAA) Basketball
The best part of the experience so far this year is new: CBS's free on-demand streaming video of NCAA tournament games.
|
| March 15, 2006 |
Do Little Things Matter? And Avionic Flu . . .
In professional settings, how much does spelling count? How about typeface? How about good writing generally? And you'll want to read up on "avionic" flu.
|
| February 20, 2006 |
A Late, Exquisite Valentine
Notes on a late valentine, featuring a fine restaurant, a favorite bookstore chain, and two first-rate musical ensembles.
|
| February 18, 2006 |
This Week's Readings
Suzanne Fields, Paul Greenberg, and George Will head the list. Jeff Jacoby has a great euphemism. Paul Greenberg (in another article) holds up an excellent example of civic activity with style and class. And you get to read the phrase "ahistorical thumbsucking." (Beat that!)
|
| February 15, 2006 |
Early Help for Next Valentine's Day
I sent my wife several e-mails yesterday with good and/or fun quotes about love. Here are most of them, in case you need them next year. My favorite, at least for yesterday's purposes? This one: Nunc scio quit sit amor. (If your Latin's rusty, google it.)
|
| February 13, 2006 |
Quick Thoughts on Religious Freedom
Three quick thoughts on religious freedom.
|
| January 13, 2006 |
Real Progress Is Often Slow, and Other Thoughts
Random thoughts on nuisance abatement, the Daily Herald's new Web site, pipe organs made locally, etc.
|
| January 5, 2006 |
Things to Watch for in American Fork
I suppose that quite a number of American Fork residents who are interested in their city government, as I am, are watching the new Mayor and partly-new City Council . . .
|
| December 9, 2005 |
Smart Stuff to Read
Steven Spielberg, Republican moral cowardice, Peggy Noonan on Iraq, and a good piece on immigration reform.
|
| December 7, 2005 |
Recommended Readings
Recommended readings on Iraq, the President, Wal-Mart, abortion, Stanley "Tookie" Williams, the 2008 presidential election, good books, oil company profits, "stupidization," and more.
|
| December 6, 2005 |
A Musical Memory, Circa Christmas 1981
|
| December 5, 2005 |
A Minor League Team, er, Symphony, Is a Good Thing
|
| December 5, 2005 |
My First American Fork Symphony Concert
|
| November 25, 2005 |
A Splendid Evening of Music in American Fork
|
| November 19, 2005 |
The Music School and a (Crescent) Super Band
|
| November 12, 2005 |
Local Gasoline Prices, a Pleasant Political Escape, and Good Readings on Many Topics
|
| October 31, 2005 |
Good, Recent Readings
|
| October 28, 2005 |
One Last Round with American Fork Mayoral Candidates
|
| October 21, 2005 |
I Met the City Council Candidates (Again)
|
| October 20, 2005 |
Eating Pizza in the Public Library with Candidates
|
| October 19, 2005 |
Some Overdue Housekeeping: Commander in Chief, Open Meeting Statutes, a Flyer, and Selecting a New Police Chief (Not Necessarily in That Order)
|
| October 15, 2005 |
Good Readings, Various Topics
|
| September 29, 2005 |
I Met Even More Candidates, Part I (Or Is It IV?)
|
| September 28, 2005 |
More Good Reads (and Procrastinating the President)
|
| September 12, 2005 |
The John Roberts Inquisition, Plus Good Stuff to Read
|
| August 31, 2005 |
LaVaughn, LaVerl, Hurricane Katrina, and the International Community
|
| August 27, 2005 |
The West Wing
|
| August 16, 2005 |
About Bullies: Look Out for That Passive Voice
|
| July 29, 2005 |
4-H Talent Show at the Utah County Fair, A Year Later
|
| July 22, 2005 |
An Assortment: From Art and Language to Constitutional Law and Foreign Policy
|
| June 23, 2005 |
On Manners
|
| June 18, 2005 |
The Great American Fork Chili Cook-off, and Dick Durbin and John McCain Cook Off, Too
|
| June 17, 2005 |
Good Articles for Father's Day
|
| June 16, 2005 |
Goodbye, Joan, You Were My Favorite
|
| May 27, 2005 |
Miscellany
|
| May 19, 2005 |
That Billboard on Main Street, American Fork
|
| May 11, 2005 |
Common Sense: How not to Be Poor
|
| April 22, 2005 |
Earth Day and Recycling in American Fork
|
| April 19, 2005 |
Parenting, Social Security, and Pope John Paul II
|
| April 16, 2005 |
Thoughts for the Day After Yesterday
|
| April 8, 2005 |
Glam Rock Meets Home Teaching
|
| March 31, 2005 |
Thoughts on the Late Terri Schiavo
|
| March 22, 2005 |
The Weird Arts in American Fork, Revisited
|
| March 8, 2005 |
Moosebutter: A Local Cultural Icon
|
| February 28, 2005 |
Garage Jumping
|
| February 23, 2005 |
Tom Hunter Goes, Jimmie Cates Comes
|
| February 8, 2005 |
They're Not Helping the Children
|
| February 2, 2005 |
Groundhog Day and the State of the Union
|
| January 31, 2005 |
It's Time to Save the Harrington School
|
| January 19, 2005 |
The Greatest Inaugural Speech, IMO
|
| November 18, 2004 |
Supporting Our Troops
|
| November 17, 2004 |
Mormons, Abortion Policy, Harry Reid
|
| November 4, 2004 |
Political Miscellany
|
| November 1, 2004 |
Christmas Already?
|
| September 27, 2004 |
Paul Hamm, the Court, and Election 2000 Revisited
|
| September 24, 2004 |
A Polite Young Pedestrian
|
| September 21, 2004 |
A New Psychic in American Fork
|
| September 11, 2004 |
Looking Back: 9/11, Part Two
|
| September 10, 2004 |
Looking Back: 9/11, Part One
|
| September 1, 2004 |
Stylianos Kyriakides
|
| August 24, 2004 |
It's Bush/Gore 2000 All Over Again
|
| August 5, 2004 |
Summer Reading: Tolstoy's "Anna Karenina"
|
| August 3, 2004 |
Mormon Satire: The Sugar Beet, RIP
|
| July 30, 2004 |
The Arts in Utah Valley: A Microcosm
|
|
|
