I am somewhere between ecstatic and doing backflips: VJ has officially hit The New York Times best seller list. It’s #25 on the extended hardcover nonfiction list, #15 on the ebook nonfiction list, and #25 on the extended combined print and ebook nonfiction list. The point being: this is awesome news, and since I’ve been […]

posted 22 May 2013 in News, Tasty Bits. no comments yet

Henry Bromell died on March 18, at the age of 65. About six months earlier, I had a long conversation with him; most of it never saw print, due to the exigencies of magazine journalism, but he was a fascinating man. Bromell wrote for many TV shows, including Homicide, Northern Exposure, Rubicon, and most recently, […]

posted 21 May 2013 in Tasty Bits, Unpublished. no comments yet

I traded tweets earlier today with a very cool graphic artist, Craig Robinson, author of the excellent and witty baseball infographic collection Flip Flop Fly Ball. The spur: he recently compiled his own single-disc version of the Beatles’ White Album, which reminded me of the time I did my version. We’re not the only ones, […]

posted 19 February 2013 in Archives, Links, Tasty Bits. 1 comment

1. Beyoncé, “Crazy in Love” (“Got me hoping you’ll page me right now”) 2. R.E.M., “Star 69” (“I know you called, I know you hung up my line”) 3. The Kinks, “Party Line” (“Wish I had a more direct connection”) 4. The Mekons, “Authority” (“Fax me in the morning”) 5. Blondie, “Hanging on the Telephone” […]

posted 1 October 2012 in Tasty Bits. 2 comments

I am grateful for many things in my life, not least that I think about my experiences on 9/11/2001 with less frequency as the years pass.

posted 11 September 2012 in Archives, Tasty Bits. no comments yet

Not all of them in New Orleans. 1. The Clash, “London Calling” 2. Randy Newman, “Lousiana 1927” 3. Led Zeppelin, “When the Levee Breaks” 4. Johnny Cash, “Five Feet High and Rising” 5. Bob Dylan, “Down in the Flood” Stay dry, Brooklyn.

posted 15 August 2012 in Tasty Bits. 2 comments

A quick link to a small item: my New York Times Magazine sidebar on five of my favorite misheard lyrics is now up on their 6th Floor Blog.

posted 23 July 2012 in Outside, Tasty Bits. no comments yet

If Britney Spears: Elvis Presley, then– Christina Aguilera: Jerry Lee Lewis Max Martin: Lennon / McCartney Ke$ha: The Rolling Stones Pink: The Kinks Katy Perry: The Beach Boys Dr. Luke: Phil Spector Robyn: Love Avril Lavigne: The Doors Miley Cyrus: The Dave Clark Five Rebecca Black: Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs Madonna: Chuck Berry

posted 18 July 2012 in Tasty Bits. 2 comments

Howdy, New York Times readers. If you came here looking for mondegreens, I suggest you try clicking here. And if not, then this is a moment for me to say how cool it was to do a sidebar in the Times Magazine this past Sunday with five of my favorite misheard lyrics: it’s always weird […]

posted 17 July 2012 in Tasty Bits. no comments yet

I recently received an email from Canadian songwriter Jim Vallance. You may not know his name, but you probably know his work: songs he cowrote include Aerosmith’s “Rag Doll,” Glass Tiger’s “Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone),” and Heart’s “What About Love?” And he collaborated on dozens of songs with Bryan Adams, including “Summer of […]

posted 12 July 2012 in Tasty Bits. 3 comments