Sophie Says Sooth (2002.09.16): "While you wouldn't think that Jell-O wrestling would be some kind of a state secret, you'd be wrong. The actual advent of the glorious sport known throughout the world as Jell-O wrestling has origins that lay buried beneath the sands of time, shrouded forever in mystery."

Matriculation Reloaded (2002.09.15): "When you pick up a newspaper and read that juvenile delinquency is up 15% or hear on CNN that more ritualized church services are contributing to a drop in divorce rates, this is the machinery behind those numbers. There's somebody in a room somewhere, probably with grad students in tow, deciding what is or is not delinquent."

Sophie Says Sooth (2002.09.09): "Keep your tank covered at all times! Bettas are apparently notorious for jumping out of the tank. None of us want to come home to find a dead fish on the floor. I've done that. It's not pretty."


Juliana Hatfield / Gold Stars 1992-2002: "As interesting and important as it is, though, I never would have bought it had I not found a copy for $10 at a used record store called Nuggets in Boston. I have all of Juliana's solo records, which means I have all the would-be hits including here."

Transmetropolitan: Back on the Street: "Spider Jerusalem, despite generally coming off as a PCP-addicted version of Daffy Duck, is a very deep character in terms of moral core and values. Such is the case when Spider lashes out at the womanizing leader of the Transient community regarding his abuse of authority over the Transients and his habit of knocking up his female followers."

Kay Hanley / Cherry Marmalade: "When the tenth track, 'Galapagos,' came on, I nearly tuned the road out entirely. It's one of those tracks that comes by once every few years, saying exactly what your inner siren is trying to express at exactly the right time; for me, the last one was Juliana's 'Choose Drugs' in the spring of 2000."


San Diego Comic-con 2002: Part 1: "A lot of it sounded like standard conspiracy theory bullshit; I would like to believe him about the income taxes, though. Apparently it has something to do with the improper ratification of the 16th Amendment and taxing our privilege of earning money."

"Glamour Hose": A 14-piece photographic series from Natalie Meyer


"Pixel Worship": A new short narrative work from Aaron Veenstra





2002/09/19

I've already spent 500+ words going on about it, so I won't repeat myself here but the new song of the week is Kay Hanley's "Galapagos" (8.8MB). It's on my short list for song of the year (along with Doves' "Words," Piebald's "American Hearts," Anna Waronker's "How Do You Sleep" and, ah... hm, what else came out this year?) and it should really be on yours, too. Download it, then go to the nearest record shop and give them your money.
posted at 15:18


2002/09/17

Sometimes you set out to write a record review and it turns into an almost mathematical deconstruction. I don't mean deconstruction in the academic, "Grad Student Deconstructs Taco Bell Menu Out of Habit" way, I mean it in the piecemeal examination way. The new Juliana Hatfield retrospective, Gold Stars, kind of goes that way.
posted at 20:37


2002/09/16

I don't mean to sound shallow but rarely has Sophie tackled more important subjects than in this week's piece about malt beverages and Jell-O wrestling. I mean all that stuff about romance, parenting and interpersonal relationships was fine but nothing compared to the sheer world-bettering of women rolling around in a lot of dessert. But maybe that's just me.
posted at 08:52


2002/09/15

Well, my car's screwed. And I know all about acculturation. Read all about it.
posted at 18:40


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