When We Rescue a Dog, Who’s Saving Whom?

This is about the price of dogs. Mary (not her real name) inherited Barcelona (not her real name) from her daughter Anna (not her real name). Mary and Anna are friends of mine. Barcelona is the dog. Barcelona had been Anna’s dog at college, but Anna was moving far away…

All Right, Fine, We Forgive LCD Soundsystem for Toying With Our Hearts

Yesterday, James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem set dance-punk world aflame when he wrote a letter to fans explaining the band’s return. Five years ago, Murphy announced the band’s amicable break-up to the woe of their loyal fanbase, and they ended it with the biggest bang by performing a sold-out show at…

Country Music Isn’t in Need of a Savior

Last Wednesday night, the uber-talented and mightily bearded Chris Stapleton sent shockwaves through the country music world when he collected three CMA Awards. By taking home the trophies for Best New Artist, Album of the Year and, perhaps most surprisingly, Male Vocalist of the Year — an award dominated in…

Not Even Sam Houston Would be Safe from Discrimination in Houston

What to say about Houston, eh? Citizens there voted two-to-one this week to kill an anti-discrimination proposition that would have broadly banned discrimination in housing, employment, city contracting and business services. Opponents won by vowing that a ban on discrimination would allow men dressed as women to sneak into women’s…