Russellarbenfox

LATEST ARTICLES ( 630 )

• Our Own Private Idaho

  

  This past summer, Melissa and I, along with our two youngest girls, visited the old Fox family cabin on the Moyie river, north of Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Read more

  Posted on 24 December 2018 SOCIETY

• Mid-Sized Meditations #16: Local Identity and Cities In-Between

  

  [Cross-posted to Front Porch Republic]2018 has been a busy year for those of us who aspire to--or are at least somewhat animated by--localism here in Wichita,... Read more

  Posted on 20 December 2018 SOCIETY

• The Worst Christmas Specials Ever. Still.

  

  Exactly ten years ago I shared this wonderful relic of the Olde Days of the Blogosphere, by John Scalzi. It was old then, and it's even older now. Still make... Read more

  Posted on 12 December 2018 SOCIETY

• Songs of '78: "Shattered"

  

  The fifth and final song from Some Girls that my pop radio memories of 1978 present me with--following "Miss You," "Far Away Eyes," "Running Away with Me," and... Read more

  Posted on 29 November 2018 SOCIETY

• Losing (Some Of) the Local Commons

  

  [Cross-posted to Front Porch Republic]The annual Prairie Festival at The Land Institute just outside Salina, KS, was held two months ago, but it's been much on... Read more

  Posted on 23 November 2018 SOCIETY

• Songs of '78: "Y.M.C.A."

  

  40 years ago today, on November 13 (a Monday), the Village People released "Y.M.C.A.," and proceeded to conquer the world. Disco, and perhaps America too,... Read more

  Posted on 13 November 2018 SOCIETY

• What Kind of Democracy Do Localists Want?

  

  [Cross-posted to Front Porch Republic]Last week the United States went through another one of our regular, mostly ritualized exercises in mass democracy. What... Read more

  Posted on 12 November 2018 SOCIETY

• Songs of '78: "Da' Ya' Think I'm Sexy?"

  

  Nope, not done with the disco of 1978 yet. But "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?," despite--or maybe because of its cheesy title--is so much more than a fine, groovy... Read more

  Posted on 10 November 2018 SOCIETY

• Ten Moderately Short, and Only Moderately Philosophical, Theses on Voting

  

  1) I don't think there is a duty to vote, and I wouldn't support compulsory voting, even if that was a political possibility in this country. Read more

  Posted on 06 November 2018 SOCIETY

• Why the Estes-Thompson Race Matters to Me (Besides, You Know, Because It Will...

  

  Let's just get this out of the way: my track record when it comes to political predictions is utterly abysmal. So I'm not going to try this time around. Read more

  Posted on 02 November 2018 SOCIETY

• Songs of '78: "Jet Airliner"

  

  From the beginning of this series, I've been up front: these blog posts are about the pop, rock, funk, punk, and other songs of 1978 which wormed their way... Read more

  Posted on 01 November 2018 SOCIETY

• Songs from '78: "My Life"

  

  Forty years ago yesterday, Billy Joel released "My Life," the first single off 52nd Street, one of his greatest albums. I have no memory of when I first listene... Read more

  Posted on 29 October 2018 SOCIETY

• Songs of '78: "Radio Radio"

  

  "Radio Radio" is one of those songs about our material and aural history--specifically, a song about the songs we listened to, and how we listened to them, and... Read more

  Posted on 20 October 2018 SOCIETY

• Songs of '78: "Fire"

  

  Last time, talking about Chic's awesome disco tune "Le Freak," I confessed that as, a not-quite-10-year-old listening to rock music on my radio in Spokane, WA, ... Read more

  Posted on 02 October 2018 SOCIETY

• Songs of '78: "Le Freak"

  

  Considering how dominant disco was in 1978--as I noted way back in February, it was unavoidable that year--not a lot of disco stands out in my memories,... Read more

  Posted on 21 September 2018 SOCIETY

• Songs of '78: "Beast of Burden"

  

  Twice before I've showcased my love for Some Girls. There are songs that came out in 1978--whether I remember listening to them on the radio 40 years ago, or... Read more

  Posted on 09 September 2018 SOCIETY

• Songs of '78: "Time Passages"

  

  "Time Passages," the first song released from--and the first song in the track listing of--Al Stewart's album of the same name, is probably responsible, more... Read more

  Posted on 01 September 2018 SOCIETY

• Songs of '78: "Lights"

  

  "Lights" was the final single released off of Journey's wonderful album Infinity, which had already produced two earlier--and, musically speaking, probably... Read more

  Posted on 23 August 2018 SOCIETY

• Five Essential Aretha Franklin Performances (R.I.P.)

  

  The Queen of Soul is dead. Except--scratch that. Yes, she absolutely was the dominant female soul, R&aB;, and gospel singer of her (and our) time--but she was... Read more

  Posted on 16 August 2018 SOCIETY

• Thoughts on the Evolution of Mormon Political Engagement

  

  [Cross-posted to By Common Consent]The Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs at Georgetown University put up on their website today a forum in... Read more

  Posted on 14 August 2018 SOCIETY