This weekend I attended a lecture by Ira Glass, the man behind the brilliant “This American Life” program from Public Radio International. I hope to write a full blog post in the coming days about all of his brilliant comments.
But in the meantime, check out this episode of his show. As with most episodes, it’s full of amazing storytelling and messages that will stay with you. But I particularly like this edition because it focuses on a topic that far too many journalists get wrong: growing up.
This is the A-Block (first segment) of the 6:30 half hour of Good Morning Kansas, the morning news show I produce on KAKE-TV. Just thought I’d post it as an example of my work. Enjoy.
The first sports team I ever followed was KU basketball.
I remember one year, back when my age was still in the single digits, watching KU play in the NCAA tournament. And I remember watching the last seconds of a loss tick away through tears. I didn’t even understand why I was crying…but it felt like the right thing to do.
Let’s get some things out there. Being a Jayhawk fan is not easy, despite what some people may say. Every year is like a box of chocolates: you never know what you’re gonna get. But one thing’s for sure. There’s going to be a lot of fun along the way.
Four years and one day ago, I remember watching the UCLA-Memphis game in my dorm room with people who are still my very best friends. I remember pretending to care about that national semifinal as we got ready to walk down the hill to the hallowed ground of Allen Fieldhouse. There was nothing quite as satisfying as watching Cole Aldrich, then a relatively unknown freshman, put an absolute beatdown on Tyler Hansbrough. Nothing quite as unbelievable as watching the good guys absolutely wipe the floor with UNC in the first half, then watching them almost squander that massive lead in the second half.
But more than anything, I remember The March.
When the final buzzer sounded, my friends and I ran at full speed out of the Fieldhouse, screaming and hollering across campus. Hugging, high-fiving, Roy-bashing, and even singing. It was about ten minutes into the hoopla that I realized I had no idea where we were headed. Frankly, it didn’t feel like it mattered. I think I could’ve been running to a colonoscopy that night, and I still would’ve done it happily.
I finally figured out that we were walking to Mass, the social mecca of Lawrence. I remember walking down the hill, arm in arm with my buddies, singing “Hey Baby” as loud as you could. (I will, for as long as I live, associate that song and “We’re Not Gonna Take It” with the 2008 national championship.)
As we walked the final block to Mass, I had no idea what to expect. There were obviously other people making the same walk…but how many people would actually be there?
The feeling of turning that corner to see thousands upon thousands of Jayhawks filling Mass Street was euphoric.
And to some small part of me, it was validation. “Yes, it’s okay to care this much about basketball. We’ve been doing it in this town for a hundred years…welcome to the party.”
Four years later, here we are again.
Last night, as the final buzzer sounded, and Aaron Craft stood on the court with the shrug that will be burned into my brain forever, the sound that came out of my mouth was much different than in 2008.
It wasn’t a triumphant whoop. It wasn’t a song, or even trash talk.
I just laughed. Long and loud.
I still can’t believe this team. I had to check Twitter this morning to make sure I didn’t dream up the game last night.
But most importantly, I can’t believe how lucky we are as Jayhawk fans.
Sometimes, it’s better to be lucky than good.
For the 2012 Jayhawks, it’s even better to be both.
While it’s surprising, even to me, that I haven’t written a post since September, it makes complete sense that this would be the day I return to the keyboard.
One year ago today, we lost a friend.
The term that’s used a lot when a loved one is lost is “has left a hole in our hearts.” Well sometimes cliches survive for a reason; they simply fit.
Today, there’s still a big, goofy, beardy hole in the hearts of all that knew Matt Adair. There are still a thousand questions that swirl in our minds whenever we think about this time last year. And there’s still that certain kind of laugh that Matt provided that won’t be heard again.
I’m going to go out on a limb here. Time does not, in fact, heal all wounds. I feel confident when I say for those that knew Matt, his absence still hurts, and always will. There are many people who were closer to Matt than I was, and many who knew him that weren’t as close to him as I was. Those “levels of friendship” simply don’t matter. We are all still feeling the loss in our own ways.
I started writing this without a really clear idea of what I wanted to say (maybe you can tell), but the most important thing I can say is that it’s vitally important to keep Matt’s memory alive with the friendships that bind us. In the past year, I’ve met some truly incredible people that were a huge part of Matt’s life, people I probably wouldn’t have met if things had turned out differently. And the time I’ve spent with them, especially the times we reminisce about Matt, have been some of my most cherished moments.
And I wouldn’t give any of those friendships up for anything.
I hate that I can’t be in Lawrence tonight, reminiscing with my best friends about the man who so profoundly touched all of our lives. And I hate that I’ve lost sight of one of the most important things Matt taught me: keep up with your friends. I will never forget Matt, and I owe it to him to honor his legacy by doing what he was always so good at: making time for the people that matter.
No matter what.
Laugh a little harder today than you normally would. It’s what Matt would want.
Below I’ve copied the “online eulogy” I wrote for Matt last year, along with a link to my Jayplay essay about him from the spring.
Even though I’ve only known for a short while, I’ve been agonizing over how to properly pay tribute to a fallen friend.
Sharing memories with friends, writing on his Facebook wall, anything else…none of it really appealed to me. I didn’t want to impose my feelings on thoughts on anyone who didn’t truly want to hear them.
So I’m choosing to do it here. Yes, this is my sports blog. But some things are much, much more important. I’m giving you fair warning. If you’re looking for my usual sports rants, go read some of my old stuff.
Matt Adair was truly one of the most fun people I’ve ever met in my life. He was always sporting his big goofy smile, and usually either laughing or doing something to make his friends laugh.
And while he had that rollicking good time side, he also truly cared about his friends. I remember numerous times he stayed up way too late in order to make sure a friend was feeling alright.
And I remember that some of our best times came when he and I really got into it arguing about sports. To be honest, we were probably both wrong most of the time. But it didn’t matter. Whether yelling while watching a game, or yelling about the game before and after, we always enjoyed ourselves.
I also remember that he sat with me on my 21st birthday just to have a marathon round of NBA 2K10.
But I’ve started to ramble. There’s a point to all of this.
Matt Adair will always be remembered by his friends and family.
But for those of you that might not have had the pleasure of knowing him, I ask you to remember two things from this tragedy as you go about your lives.
1. Smile every day. This advice originally comes from Jim Valvano, but it also applies to Matt. He always made sure his friends were smiling, and we made him smile in return. Don’t let yourself get down. Surround yourself with people that you trust will make you happy. It sounds like a dumb thing to say, but it’s not always as easy as it sounds.
2. Be willing to have the late night checkup. As I said, Matt had many of these with his friends to make sure they were alright. Not enough of us do that, in my opinion. I’ve found recently that I’m lucky enough to have amazing friends that always check on me when they can tell things aren’t going so great. I truly wish everyone could be so lucky. So check in on that friend that might not have been smiling today. A two minute phone call can mean a lot.
Rest in peace, Matt. You will be sorely and truly missed.
You know why I like pro football so much more than college? Things actually change.
I’d much rather follow a sport in which a winless team like the Lions can turn into a playoff contender in a few years than one in which Notre Dame is overrated, then disappoints every single year.
And with that, here are some picks.
Houston over New Orleans
Is this optimism from a hopeless Texans fan? Yes. But the Texans do have the league’s best pass defense through two weeks and I’ve thought since the offseason that this would be the year that New Orleans return to Earth. (Not saying they won’t be a playoff team, just saying I don’t think they’re an elite team anymore.)
Philadelphia over NY Giants
Just call it the 2011 NFC East Injury Bowl: a possibly Vick-less Eagles offense against an injury-depleted Giants defense. The other talented Philly skill players make the difference here.
Carolina over Jacksonville
Cam Newton gets his first win in the first-round-pick quarterback matchup. Just can’t see Blaine Gabbert beating Newton in a shootout in his pro debut.
New England over Buffalo
Not yet, Bills. Win a couple games like this one…then we’ll see.
Cleveland over Miami
This could be the most underrated matchup of the week. Miami is the weirdest team in the NFL; they’re awful at home and great on the road. But I’ll take Colt McCoy and Peyton Hillis over Chad Henne and Reggie Bush.
Cincinnati over San Francisco
Wow. What a stinker. But I think the Bengals might really have something with that Dalton to Green hookup.
Tennessee over Denver
I’m not reading too much into that upset win the Titans got last week. I just think that they’re better than Denver. Then again, most teams are.
Detroit over Minnesota
Two teams going in the opposite direction. Pretty simple pick here.
Baltimore over St. Louis
I expect the Ravens to come out this week with the same intensity that the Steelers unleashed on the hapless Seahawks last week. Sorry Rams fans.
NY Jets over Oakland
I’m really tempted to pick the upset here. For some reason, I have a good feeling about Oakland this year. But I don’t see them figuring out the Jets’ defense in time to pull out the win.
San Diego over Kansas City
(Awkward silence)
Arizona over Seattle
Wow, there are a lot more bad games this week than I first thought. However, I do think the Cardinals are on the path to being a good team, especially in that division. But they aren’t there yet.
Tampa Bay over Atlanta
I like Josh Freeman to lead another 4th quarter comeback here. Something is off with Atlanta, especially when it comes to offensive gameplanning. Until it becomes clear that they’ve figured it out, I wouldn’t be too sure of anything with these Falcons.
Green Bay over Chicago
The Bears’ offensive line can’t keep Jay Cutler standing upright. I wonder if Clay Matthews will be interested in that opportunity.
Pittsburgh over Indianapolis
Could be closer than you think. By that, I mean it just might be a single digit win for the Steelers. I really do feel bad for NBC on this one, though.
Washington over Dallas
Sorry. I don’t believe in Tony Romo whether he’s injured or not. And Washington just might be a decent team.
As a Texans fan, I’m not exactly melancholy about Peyton Manning not playing.
As a football fan, I feel bad for the guy’s streak ending. Truly a great player and leader.
With that, let’s make some picks.
Saints (+4) at Packers
I’m just not sure about the Saints this year. Their division is constantly improving around them, while they stand pat with their current roster. It’s very possible they fall into .500-land this year. The Packers, on the other hand, improved on a team that won the Super Bowl even with tons of injuries. What’s not to love?
Packers 31, Saints 20
Steelers (+2 1/2) at Ravens
What better way to kick off the NFL season than with what might be the best current rivalry in the league? For me, the main matchup here is Ray Rice against the stingy Pittsburgh run defense. If Rice can consistently pick up solid yardage on first and second downs, Flacco won’t be forced to make tough throws on third down. But I’ve learned not to bet against that Steelers D.
Steelers 21, Ravens 17
Bengals (+6 1/2) at Browns
And then there’s the rest of the AFC North. Most people seem to agree that the Browns are bound to make some serious steps forward this year, while Cincy is a serious contender for the worst team in the league. No disagreements here.
Browns 28, Bengals 13
Colts (+9) at Texans
Most people think this game has given the Texans a huge advantage, and, in a way, it certainly has. But as a Texans fan, I know that the Texans don’t deal well with pressure, and the pressure is certainly on this weekend. If Houston can’t beat Indy at home without Peyton, fans will tar and feather Gary Kubiak. This one will be closer than you think.
Texans 24, Colts 17
Titans (+3) at Jaguars
And then there’s the rest of the AFC South. Matt Hasselbeck vs. Luke McCown? Count me out. Titans’ experienced WRs make the difference here.
Titans 17, Jaguars 10
Bills (+6 1/2) at Chiefs
As the Chiefs begin their division title defense, things are starting to go bad quickly, and the season hasn’t even started yet. Cassel’s banged up, the rookie WR has attitude problems (shocking), and the up-and-coming tight end is out for the year. If this was almost anyone but the Bills, I’d call for KC to fall on opening day. Just saying.
Chiefs 24, Bills 21
Falcons (-3) at Bears
The Bears are coming back to Earth this year. And it’s gonna be a rough landing, provided by Matty Ice.
Falcons 31, Bears 14
Lions (+1 1/2) at Buccaneers
This should be one of the best games of the weekend. Two teams that are consistently improving with young talent. However, the Bucs are a couple steps ahead of Detroit.
Buccaneers 24, Lions 14
Eagles (-4 1/2) at Rams
Read my lips: I don’t believe in the Eagles. Sorry Philly, but I know better than to buy into a team’s buzz just because of off-season moves. Plus, St. Louis plays well at home and Sam Bradford is ready to break out.
Rams 31, Eagles 28
Giants (-3) at Redskins
The Giants defense has been ravaged by preseason injuries. I really don’t believe in Rex Grossman…but I’m just feeling the upset here.
Redskins 27, Giants 21
Panthers (+7) at Cardinals
There was a lot of stuff coming out of Cardinals camp this summer about Kevin Kolb and Larry Fitzgerald developing a very good rapport, on-field and off, very quickly. I’ll buy it.
Cardinals 31, Panthers 17
Seahawks (+6) at 49ers
Honestly, I wouldn’t even pick this game if I had a choice.
49ers 24, Seahawks 10
Vikings (+8 1/2) at Chargers
Have you seen Norv Turner’s Chargers teams in September? They’re pretty bad. I’m really tempted to take the upset here…but I just don’t think Phillip Rivers will let his teams get upset for a second consecutive season opener.
Chargers 27, Vikings 17
Cowboys (+4 1/2) at Jets
If the Jets had a real starting quarterback, this game would be a blowout. With the Sanchize? It should be close. But I am an unabashed Rex Ryan believer.
Jets 24, Cowboys 17
Patriots (-7) at Dolphins
The Dolphins will be better than you think. Great defense, good RBs, and a QB that’s gonna surprise some people. Unfortunately, they’re playing the Patriots.
Patriots 28, Dolphins 20
Raiders (+3) at Broncos
I don’t see anything to like about the Broncos this year. Seriously, show me a reason I should think that Denver will win more than four games. Oakland isn’t that much better, but they’ve got better pieces.
Raiders 17, Broncos 10
So that’s how I see week one. Feel free to post your picks below if you dare.
(Note: Now that we’ve passed that horrible time in the sports calendar without any basketball or football, you can expect both more frequent posts, and more posts that are strictly sports related.)
It was somewhat hard to focus on the actual games during the first weekend in college football, given that the remaining Big 12 teams are riding the conference merry-go-round once again. But I did my very best to pay attention to the Big 12 matchups, along with the big national games. Here’s what I saw, thought, and learned.
-KU has some hope.
Don’t get too excited, Jayhawk fans. The goal for your team should still be to become bowl-eligible, and that could still be a rather lofty goal. But Kansas did reach Sports Illustrated’s predicted one-win total on the first weekend in September, so any more wins this season will just be gravy, right?
This team could be a couple wins better than most thought. Most of the positive attention (deservedly) went to the running game. But the best part of the offense was the playcalling. Jordan Webb was only called on to throw ten passes, and at least half of them were on well-timed pass action plays. Last year Turner Gill simply expected too much of his inexperienced quarterbacks. If he continues to let the tailbacks dictate the offense and counts on the QB to simply manage the game, KU fans won’t be quite as frustrated as they were last year.
In terms of defense, I don’t really have too much to contribute to the conversation, save these three points.
1. The speed is better.
2. The tackling is not.
3. Serious improvements need to be made defending the pass, especially throws of ten yards or less.
-KSU had one of those games.
Like it or not, about two thirds of all football teams have a game like the Wildcats had at some point in their season. By this, I mean a sloppy, impotent showing which drains all hope from the fans. The good news is, these games are usually the exception, not the rule. Don’t freak out just yet, K-State fans. I expect Bill Snyder to put some fear in his team over the bye week, and they should be raring to go against Kent State in 12 days.
-Notre Dame, on the other hand…
You know how above I talked about the exception, not the rule? Well Notre Dame might be this year’s edition of The Unbelievable Underachievers. It happens in every sport, every year. A team with good talent and positive buzz never seems to get it together throughout the season, and their fans are left with a confusing sense of disappointment. Actually, we might just start calling this “The Notre Dame Syndrome.”
-Poor Iowa State.
No analysis here, just pity. I know a couple of people who go to ISU, and they say it’s great. I wonder how much better it would be with an athletic department they could get excited about.
-The Bears are here…
Big national statement by Baylor. Of course, we’ll have to see how good TCU actually is this year before we can judge this win properly. But Gary Patterson is known as a defensive guru. And Robert Griffin ate his defense for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I’m not buying the Heisman buzz just yet, but I’ll definitely hop on that bandwagon if he shows the same skills during the conference schedule.
-The difference between good and bad coaches.
Fans are notoriously critical of their head coaches. The buck stops with the man in charge, so he ends up with most of the blame as well. As such, I’ve had many debates about what truly defines good coaching. So far, the best answer I’ve come up with is this: good coaches adjust. They change what they’re doing to fit the situation. They adapt.
I’ve always thought KU’s Bill Self is a stellar example of this. Self is the master of halftime. Whatever show is happening on the floor of Phog Allen, I guarantee you Coach Bill’s Strategy Show going on in the locker room is much, much better.
How does this relate to this weekend in college football?
To me, it made the difference in the two national games. LSU coach Les Miles was able to adjust to his personnel changes (cough, cough, suspensions) and devise a gameplan that fit both his opponent and his new personnel packages. On the other hand, Georgia coach Mark Richt never made the necessary adjustments to stop Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore from slicing and dicing his defense. This weekend at least, Miles was easily the better coach.
Sidenote: If I’m an NFL coach whose star quarterback is getting up there in years, I’m scouting Kellen Moore hard. With a couple years of clipboard duty under a good starter, Moore could take the starting job and really do wonders with it. Really like his game.
That’s all I’ve got.
As I always say, I don’t claim to be an expert or analyst or contributor or anything like that. I’m just a fan with a blog.
On another subject completely, I’m having an absolute blast at my new job. I’m currently working as a video producer, photojournalist, and producer at KAKE-TV, Wichita’s ABC affiliate. It’s pretty great to get to head out to a few high school games every Friday night, catch some college football between newscasts on Saturday, soak in the NFL on Sunday, then produce a sports show on Sunday night. If you get a chance, tune in to KAKE Sports Overtime Live on KAKE and kake.com every Sunday night at 10:35. Join our live chat (on kake.com during the show) and our KAKE Sports Overtime Live Facebook Page (anytime) with your questions, and you might see them on the show. You know, if they’re good.
I’ve been thinking for a week or so now about what I should write about next. I’ve started and given up on a few different posts, mainly because I wasn’t enticed enough by my own idea to finish the entry. (And if I’m not interested enough to write it, there’s no reason you’d be interested enough to read it.)
Then The Late Late Show came on.
For those of you who don’t know, that happens to be my favorite television show. For my money, Craig Ferguson is the best entertainer out there.
But he isn’t the subject of this post.
If you don’t know, Ferguson took his show to Paris for the week. But, unlike most talk shows when they go on the road, the show is being done with no set. Ferguson just brought cameras, his sidekick robot skeleton Geoff, and the lovely Kristen Bell. This choice has allowed them to actually show off Paris along with all of its culture and history.
It has also allowed for conversations much deeper than you’d usually see on late night television.
On Tuesday’s show, Craig had a number of deep conversations with comedian and actor Eddie Izzard on the streets of Paris.
The one that piqued my interest was Izzard’s analysis of any kind of popular culture. He argued that, in any form of art or culture, there are two main groups: mainstream and alternative. In late night television, for instance, Jay Leno is mainstream while David Letterman is alternative. He also argued that these preferences transcend countries and languages. People who like mainstream comedy in Paris, for example, would prefer Leno to Letterman.
It’s a pretty interesting idea when you think about it.
The idea of something being “alternative” has always been hip, sexy, and above all, now.
I would argue that, at the very beginning of her career, the only reason that Lady GaGa gained fame is because she was such a bold example of alternative. No one had seen anything quite like her before. It’s been fascinating to watch her slowly but surely break out of that restrictive bubble.
At first, she was famous because she was different. But now, she remains famous largely because of her message. To me, this is best evidenced in her recent ad for Google.
She has a very clear message in almost everything she does: it’s okay to be yourself, always.
Another example of the ideas of mainstream and alternative can be seen in the most famous musical act of all time: The Beatles. Because of the two people writing their songs, they were both a mainstream and alternative band mushed up in one amazing group.
Paul McCartney’s songs are decidedly mainstream. With their perfect portraits of love and life, they paint a picture that many of us might find hopelessly optimistic. John Lennon’s songs, on the other hand, are more realistic, even downtrodden. They also use drug-aided surrealism to convey the mixed feelings that seemed to be flying through his head at all times.
If you ask me, this dichotomy is one of the main factors that made the Beatles the phenomenon they became. On many of their songs, they almost sound like they’re arguing with themselves. The best example I can think of is “We Can Work It Out,” a song mainly written by Paul with an interlude written by John.
The song deals with a couple on the verge of a breakup. Paul’s lyrics deal with the problem optimistically, saying that “we can work it out, and get it right.” John, on the other hand, believes that “life is very short, and there’s no time for fussing and fighting, my friend.” John has already given up on the relationship and believes that it’s better to cut ties than waste time fighting. In fact, he’s already referring to the (ex)-girlfriend as his friend.
While on first glance these contradictory lyrics might seem a little crazy, they form a very relatable dialogue. I know I’ve had countless arguments in my own head about many different problems, especially when it comes to relationships. Unlike other groups, The Beatles didn’t make you pick one side of the argument. You can listen to any Beatles song and agree with whichever lyrics suit you at that particular time.
That’s the magic of Beatles music: no matter what you’re feeling, you can always relate.
Unfortunately, no other pop culture entity has ever really been able to duplicate this combination of mainstream and alternative. The only close example I can think of might be the American version of The Office.
There’s a big difference between the first couple seasons of the show and recent ones.
When the show started, it relied almost completely on awkward comedy. The very format of the show is very alternative for television comedy. No laugh track, no live audience, and a documentary format. For those first couple years, we felt like we were watching something we weren’t supposed to be. And, when we laughed, it was usually accompanied by an awkward cringe.
And it was a very funny, very alternative show.
But in the last few years, The Office has morphed into a much more traditional situation comedy. The laughs now come from the wacky situations that the entire cast gets themselves into. It’s much different than the first few seasons, which relied on one main source for laughs: Michael Scott’s ridiculous antics and how the “normal” characters would react. Now everyone is wacky.
And the show is still quite funny.
Let’s make something clear: none of this has been a value judgement. There is certainly a place for both mainstream and alternative in our world of pop culture. And personally, I enjoy both. I have as much of a fondness for Maroon 5′s mainstream rock as I do for Vampire Weekend’s alternative jams.
If anything, I just find it fascinating to actively analyze the culture I’m consuming. It can really say a lot about how I’m feeling, what I’m doing, and how I’m changing.
I hope none of you reading this are big fans of the Twilight series.
If you are, I suggest you stop reading right now.
I have a lot of problems with the Twilight series that has completely overtaken pop culture in the last few years.
My biggest qualm is the complete and total hijacking of the word “Twilight.” This may seem like no big deal, but for me, it is an absolute travesty. Because of these books and movies, Twilight is now synonymous with vampires who have feelings. Pale guys with sharp teeth who want to bite you and steal your soul, but are in love with you at the same time. Is this really what passes for dramatic conflict now?
Vampires are not sensitive. Period. Vampires are scary as hell. That’s kind of the point. When Bram Stoker wrote Dracula years ago, it was meant to be a fearful allegory about sex. I feel safe saying that he never intended it to evolve into a story about teen infatuation.
I’ve never read the book, so I have no earthly idea why it’s titled “Twilight.” But it’s just…wrong.
It is my firm belief that the best storyteller in American history is a former US Army paratrooper named Rod Serling. For those in my generation who don’t know, Rod Serling created the classic television series “The Twilight Zone.” (Which, in my humble opinion, is still the best-ever American television show.)
The Twilight Zone specialized in vague terror. When you tuned in every week, you didn’t know what to expect. The stories ranged in subject matter from science fiction, to terror, to fantasy, to outright horror. And it was a good bet that you’d be thinking about the story for the rest of the week.
Against my will, I will stop myself from detailing the best episodes of The Twilight Zone here. If you’re interested, give me a call, and I’ll give you a list of recommendations. It’s on Netflix instant view, so you have no excuse for not having seen it.
One of the reasons the show was so great was that it was an anthology show. We met new characters and new impossibilities every week, and at the end of thirty minutes, we had closure. Sometime in the sixty years since The Twilight Zone first aired, anthology series have fallen out of favor with American audiences.
I don’t really understand that. We live in a time when, even though almost every drama on television is serialized, we are always disappointed with the result. The Killing, 24, and Lost are just a few examples.
TV writers love coming up with big, complex ideas to entrance audiences. That has always been the case. The difference is the time frame. In the fifties and sixties, the ideas were wrapped up the same night they were introduced. In the last decade, writers seem to think that viewers must want to follow an idea for six or seven years to reach a (usually unsatisfying) conclusion.
For me, the word “twilight” will always invoke the spooky Twilight Zone theme music. It will always make me think of that door that was opened by the key to your imagination. The dimension not just of sight and sound, but of mind.
It makes me sad that for an entire generation, the word will only invoke images of pale, hormonal vampires.
Posted by elliotmetz 
