The Cost of Tradition: The Sad Corruption of The Dad Vail Regatta
on Nov 22, 2009 in Atheletes Dad Vail Regatta Mayor Nutter Philadelphia Schuylkill River college culture tradition Traditions are an essential, valuable facet of all countries, cultures, and communities. They provide great comfort to their practitioners and serve as a staple of consistency in an otherwise fickle world. Philadelphia, being one of the oldest citi...

Up-and-Coming Giants of the Music Industry or Just Another Artist?
on Nov 21, 2009 in Company of Thieves J.G. Giant Milkboy Coffee Music Musicians Purevolume Radio Radio 104.5 local music milkboycoffee.com purevolume.com unsigned artists Well I'm back, after a brief absence from the blog scene. What, you may ask, has inspired this return? A national news story? A wise insight? A witty observation? A social criticism/commentary? Not quite, you guys will know me better than that in due...

The Story of What's Your Name - Part III of III
on Nov 19, 2009 in Short Story This brief interaction lasted much longer as food for thought than did the candy bar as a temporary relief from the heat. Although my skepticism towards religion and spirituality had increased since my liberation from the rigor of Catholic school, th...

The Story of What's Your Name - Part II of III
on Nov 18, 2009 in Short Story Of course, everybody at Highpoint knew my name. I was a permanent fixture at the outdoor pool. So by late summer, I was in with the other guards, camp counselors, the regular members, the maintenance crew, and the kids working the snack bar. The latt...

The Story of What's Your Name - Part I of III
on Nov 17, 2009 in Short Story That summer was the first time I grew out my hair. I was 19 years old, satisfied with life, but with a desire for even more. Two years of college had taught me how to balance good grades with good parties. By the end of sophomore year, my name was se...

The End is Down there Somewhere
on Nov 16, 2009 in Short Story Grainy sand squished between their toes as they walked towards and away from nothing in particular. Waves gently strode upon the shore just enough to remind them not to get too close. The damp air and salty smell filled their nostrils, something th...

A Bedtime Story from Nancy Pelosi
on Nov 14, 2009 in America Health Care Satire bedtime stories government obama pelosi politics socialism Recently, the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, announced that she would like to have a healthcare reform bill in the next month as a "Christmas Present for the American people." What a nice sentiment from our maternal provider in Congress! This sk...

Sing a Song of Myself... Just Not That One, Please!
on Nov 12, 2009 in Barney Bruce Springsteen Freedom Music Musicians Prince Radio Torture music politics After two weeks of World Series baseball, and a one week recuperation from the torturous anguish of defeat to the Yankees, I now feel well enough to write again. And since I am on the subject of torture, I thought it only appropriate to contemplate...

The America the DC Sniper Created
on Nov 11, 2009 in 9/11 America Anthrax Columbine DC Sniper Home Depot John Muhammad Malvo Maryland Washington culture media The State of Virginia executed John Muhammad at 9:03 on November 10, 2009. I was aware of the execution about three days before the event, but I did not want to write about it before I knew he was gone. It has been seven years since he went on his ra...

A Book Club Dropout’s Review: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
on Nov 10, 2009 in Book Clubs Books Charles Dickens Great Expectations National Bestseller Steig Larsson Sweden The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo When I was given the book, it was because no one could make it through the first eighty pages. After a failed attempt at a book club meeting, I thought I would give it a chance, even if it had the dreaded words, “National Bestseller”, on it. I am...