So Arthur Laurents, who did that Gypsy revival I liked so much, is at it again, putting up a properly bilingual West Side Story. It sounds like he's going for proper gang brutality and sociological realism. I approve the intention-- imagine a WSS where the Jets and Sharks actually feel dangerous! The choreography will be a problem as always, as ( Read more... )

While bumming around downtown New York with object_holder last month, we went by a hat shop with a sign in the window indicating nice hats weren't just for hipsters. I was a little surprised: My fedoras still tend to draw comment from strangers as though they're something exotic, at lest in Boston ( Read more... )

(See previous.)

We have two more official challengers named to Nazgûl:

In Alaska, Mark Begich, and in Kansas, Jim Slattery. The races in Alaska and Texas remain close, and moreover, there are surprising signs of competitiveness in Kansas. I've given, and if you're already so inclined, I'd remind you to do the same.

"Begone, if you be not ( Read more... )

Many of you will have heard about Viacom getting their court order to force Google to hand over all their logs of YouTube watching. In effect, they want to know whether people are watching only non-copyrighted material on YouTube, or if it's all "piracy ( Read more... )

Click to view

I love this song in part because its shout of "Freedom!" comes seemingly out of nowhere. Nothing about the thinly-sketched scenario of romantic conflict suggests this refrain. Maybe the speaker is defining freedom in terms of mutual responsibility ("You need me, and I need you / Without each other, there ain't nothing neither can do"). More ( Read more... )

( Read more... )

( Read more... )

While I'm posting random funny links: The Onion's coverage of the High School Tonys is pretty great.

While I sort of assume the entire internet has already seen this, it bears repeating:

"Y HALO THAR," said the alien cat. "IM IN UR HUB SITTIN ON YANTOE."

I've seen all of, like, one episode of Torchwood, and I still thought it was funny.

In New York for a day and a half last week, I took an afternoon to stand in the TKTS line. Imagine my shock to see the current Gypsy revival available at 50% off, barely a week after it walked away with three Tonys for the cast. My first choice would've been South Pacific of course-- it's my favorite Rodgers & Hammerstein score-- but that'll run ( Read more... )