Archive for August, 2009

Tune into the Food Network and you'll see "food porn" at its best. The visual we enjoy today stands in stark contrast to the barren culinary landscape that Julia Child confronted nearly a half-century ago. In the past dozen years or so, the culinary roots Child planted have blossomed on the small screen. »

Dan Wonderly is our latest featured artist. He shared with us the genesis of his "Chaos Maps," which he describes as "paintings derived from riding the subways of New York City." »

When TLC, known for its voyeuristic “reality” television, emerged with a new show in 2006, couch potatoes everywhere rejoiced. Jon and Kate Gosselin were just like you, and we had a great villain in Mady. But the fun, the laughter, the drinking games, screeched to a halt all too soon. »

Not all brains function alike and even minor differences in brain function can lead to some bizarre and amazing results. The things that our brains can make us do and believe defy what most of us understand as reality. »

A few years after attempting to gloss itself over as "Kitchen Fresh Chicken," Kentucky Fried Chicken is going back to its greasy, buttery roots -- and then some. Select markets have introduced the KFC Double Down. And humanity shuddered. »

I've watched John Ford's 1962 classic, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance many times. It resonates more with each viewing, particularly so in recent years. Liberty premiered in a time when the United States was facing daunting changes on the horizon, internally and externally. »

What we'll miss most about Paula on 'Idol'—her blissful ability to stand up and shake her aging booty to the tuneless stylings of the likes of Sanjaya Malakar then offer him incoherent but kind words of wisdom. Like the drunk aunt at the wedding who made the staid affair a little bit more interesting.... »

"I'd rather eat Cup-o-Noodles every day and be proud of the work I'm doing than be eating sushi and embarrassed by my work," Julia Wertz said during the course of our conversation about the business side of being an indie comics creator. How does an independent creator define success? »

Michael Jackson was far from your typical drug abuser, and it feels unfair to make him the reigning poster boy for the celebrity drug overdose, particularly when he's the perfect poster boy for so many other things. Perhaps that’s the most tragic thing about his surprise death by overdose—it was completely unearned. »

Does the presence of chlorine in the swimming pool negate the need for urinary propriety? Is peeing in the pool really that big of a deal? »