The Music Biz’s Fading Top Line
Since this seems to be the time of year to list all the “greats,” “tops ” and “bests” of last year, I thought it might be interesting to point briefly to Billboard magazine’s breakdown of the music numbers generated in 2013. I do this because there was one item that stood out to me. According to […]
Game Goods 2013: Bob Hoose’s Year-End Picks
They say “life’s a game” … or was that “life’s no game”? Hmm. Maybe it’s “the game of life”? No, that’s a board game. Never mind. I’ve obviously been playing too many video games and not researching my quotes. But for this year-end list’s purposes, I’ll claim that’s a good thing. I’ve personally had the […]
The Stress of Jingling Bells
The Christmas season is a time of peace and joy, right? Well, for many of us, this jolly time of year can also come with a heaping helping of stress. And a group of researchers from Kent University say that if you want a more peaceful holiday, you ought to set aside your jingling, buzzing […]
Focus Friday: A Week of Adventures
You know, I love a good quote. The best of those can offer you a taste of humor along with a little wise elbow to your brain. My mother’s favorite—”Don’t touch that, it could be infected!”—had the wisdom part down, but was never very funny when she yelled it out in public. Another of my […]
The Music Videos, They Are A-Changin’
Bob Dylan, the 72-year-old music icon, hasn’t ever been especially fond of the new wave of technology and its impact on the kids of today. In a 2009 Rolling Stone interview he made that eminently clear. “It’s peculiar and unnerving in a way to see so many young people walking around with cell phones and […]
Miley, the Pope and the Web
I figured I’d be writing about Miley Cyrus today. It’s been days since we’ve written anything about this in-the-moment shock diva, and we certainly don’t want to fall behind the rest of the worldwide media, documenting every twerk and toke taken by the onetime teen queen. But as I was researching, I found an interesting […]
A Hearty Dad Hug to Start Your Day
There’s nothing like a fun vid to start off your day. And this one, featuring a British dad who can’t help celebrating emotionally over his son’s accomplishments, is bound to bring a smile to your mug. [View:http://youtu.be/Ls9Cg8iaq1s:550:0] And that was all over the kids simply getting a “C,” just enough to finally pass that dreaded […]
Romcom R.I.P.?
The venerable romcom. It’s been a part of our cultural fabric forever, hasn’t it? I got to thinking about that because a modern version of Much Ado About Nothing—based on Shakespeare’s play that many consider to be the original romantic comedy—just hit the store shelves in video form. When I mull over today’s comedies, though, […]
Why So Serious, BatDad?
Let’s admit the truth, we parents kinda see ourselves as superheroes. And rightfully so. Who else can pick up a room full of blocks, mop up a table drenched with spilt juice and wipe a runny nose, all with the single-bound grace of a ninja leaping from a darkened rooftop to shadowed ledge? That’s why […]
Grand Theft Agony
Hey there, Plugged-Inners. I’ve already written a full Plugged In review of the latest Grand Theft Auto game that recently hit the market. (You know, the one that sold, oh, about a gazillion copies within minutes of its release.) But I’m thinking this is one of those games that deserves a little more than just […]