Trader Joe’s: The Good, the Bad, and the QuirkyI was surprised to learn that Trader Joe’s has been around since 1958. I discovered it much later and only started shopping there regularly…Sep 30Sep 30
Life in a Low-End AirbnbAirbnb likes to market its high-end offerings. Commercials usually display luxurious settings that are an alternative to 4 or 5-star hotels…Sep 3Sep 3
THE KILLER ON NETFLIX: A HITMAN’S VENDETTAIt seems like Netflix is specializing in made for streaming movies with extremely limited theater runs about contract killers. At least if…Aug 29Aug 29
Kedi: Cats of an Ancient City -Documentary About Istanbul CatsIstanbul is known for many things: it’s the site of the old Byzantine city of Constantinople and, later, the Ottoman empire. It’s home to…Aug 13Aug 13
Are You Weird Or the New Normal?I’m writing this in summer 2024, when the left and right in the United States are debating who is more “weird.”Aug 81Aug 81
Hit Man: Fun Noirish Comedy But Not Vintage LinklaterRichard Linklater, one of my favorite indie directors, is known for his episodic and conversation-heavy films such as Slacker, Dazed and…Jul 31Jul 31
Fluke: Does Everything Happen For a Reason?As the title suggests, the basic idea of Fluke, by Brian Klaas, is that much of what happens in life -including our very existence- comes…Jul 27Jul 27
Coping in the Age of ConfusionOur times are called many things: the digital area, late-stage capitalism, post-industrial, information age, and many others. I suggest…Jul 19Jul 19
I’m Not a Knight: The Case For Dropping HonorificsHonorific: a title or word implying or expressing high status, politeness, or respect. Common honorifics in modern English are:Jun 19Jun 19
The Museum of Other People: How Museums are Mired in Today’s Culture WarsThe Museum of Other People, by Adam Kuper, explores many issues, debates, and controversies surrounding modern museums. These issues aren’t…Jun 12Jun 12