Russellarbenfox
MY BLOGS
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In Medias Res
http://inmedias.blogspot.com/
Essays, notes, and fragments--personal, political, and philosophical--from the midst of things
LATEST ARTICLES ( 588 )
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Songs from '78: "Werewolves of London"
For much of last year, I got caught up in just how fine a year I thought 1987 was, at least insofar as the pop/rock radio I tuned into was concerned. Read more
Posted on 18 January 2018 SOCIETY -
Handicapping the Kansas Governor's Race
Back to blogging? Well, I'll try.So a little over a week ago, the day before Governor Brownback's final State of the State address, I gamed out some... Read more
Posted on 16 January 2018 SOCIETY -
30 on the 30th: Cloud Nine and "That's What It Takes"
Well, it's my birthday; I'm 49 years old. Looking forward to hitting the half-century mark in just a year's time, I'm wondering a lot about how I got here, and... Read more
Posted on 30 December 2017 SOCIETY -
The Ten Best Movies I Saw in 2017
In alphabetical order. Remember, these are the best the movies I saw for the first time this year, not necessarily the best movies that were new this year... Read more
Posted on 29 December 2017 SOCIETY -
The Ten Best Books I Read in 2017
Here's my list, in authorial alphabetical order:Ta-Nehisi Coates, We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy. I've read Coates's essays for years, but... Read more
Posted on 29 December 2017 SOCIETY -
30 on the 30th: Nothing Like the Sun and "Straight to My Heart"
Coming almost to the end here of my series of great albums that I still listen to, 30 years on. I started with U2 in March, then there was Prince in April,... Read more
Posted on 30 November 2017 SOCIETY -
Sure He's Heavy, But Still: He's My Brother
Hey everyone! No, no, calm down, it's just me, your Uncle Russell. Don't freak out; here, let me close the window behind me. Is everyone here? Great! Read more
Posted on 21 November 2017 SOCIETY -
30 on the 30th: Tunnel of Love and "Tougher Than the Rest"
The year so far (with apologies for having missed the first couple of months) in my list of 30 year-old albums I still listen to: The Joshua Tree (March); ... Read more
Posted on 30 October 2017 SOCIETY -
30 on the 30th: Kick and "Need You Tonight/Mediate"
Six months now of 30-year-old albums that, I think at least, are still worth listening to--and that I still do: U2's The Joshua Tree; Prince's Sign o' the Times... Read more
Posted on 30 September 2017 SOCIETY -
We Were Eight Years in Power, and Other Thoughts from Ta-Nehisi Coates
Ta-Nehisi was on NPR this morning, talking about his latest Atlantic essay, "The First White President," as well as his new book, We Were Eight Years in Power:... Read more
Posted on 07 September 2017 SOCIETY -
30 on the 30th: Hysteria and "Animal"
My Remembering 30-Year-Old Albums on the 30th Tribute List:March: U2, The Joshua Tree.April: Prince, Sign o' the TimesMay: Suzanne Vega, Solitude StandingJune:... Read more
Posted on 30 August 2017 SOCIETY -
"The Golden Age of Kid's TV": A Poll
A couple of weeks ago I picked up Meddling Kids--which I thought a ton of fun, but not quite the Scooby-Doo-inspired adventure I wanted it to be. Read more
Posted on 02 August 2017 SOCIETY -
Crossing Cultures and Making Connections in Singapore (and Elsewhere)
A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to travel to Singapore to participate in conference dedicated to a topic I can't claim to be anything like fully... Read more
Posted on 31 July 2017 SOCIETY -
30 on the 30th: In the Dark and "My Brother Esau"
Continuing my year-long (or nearly so) journey through albums from 1987 that I still listen to and enjoy today, following The Joshua Tree, Sign o' the Times,... Read more
Posted on 30 July 2017 SOCIETY -
Trump, Scouting, My Dad, and Me
[Cross-posted to By Common Consent]I don't know why this makes me so angry, but it does.Maybe anger's not the right word; I'm not angry, I don't think. (I rarel... Read more
Posted on 25 July 2017 SOCIETY -
30 on the 30th: Running in the Family and "It's Over"
March 1987 was all about U2; April 1987 gave us Prince; May 1987 brought Suzanne Vega. For late June of 1987, I toast the 30-year-old memory of that minor... Read more
Posted on 30 June 2017 SOCIETY -
15 Favorite Memories from My 20 (Well, Actually, A Little Less Than 18) Years...
Twenty years ago today, June 26, 1997, the very first Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, was published in the United Kingdom, thus... Read more
Posted on 26 June 2017 SOCIETY -
Sheffield (and Me) Dreaming the Beatles
I wasn't a Beatles kid--except in the sense, as Rob Sheffield wonderfully invokes in his terrific new book, Dreaming the Beatles, every American (and maybe ever... Read more
Posted on 12 June 2017 SOCIETY -
30 on the 30th: Solitude Standing and "Gypsy"
March was The Joshua Tree; April was Sign o' the Times. For May, something much softer, more introspective and haunting: the 30th anniversary of Suzanne Vega's... Read more
Posted on 30 May 2017 SOCIETY -
Sunrise, Sunset, Etc. (Sniff)
Don't be so slow, Mom; I want to get across this bridge! Well, I know where I'm going; you come along later.Dad, leave me alone; I've discovered something here! Read more
Posted on 15 May 2017 SOCIETY