Category Archives: Pointless Nostalgia

Seizures

Posted on April 25, 2013 by

As the subway doors unlatch, someone shoves me in the back, hard. This is more than the usual L train jostle. It is especially aggressive even for the Union Square stop, where the “I’m ignoring your humanity to make my … Read on! —->

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Jean Shepherd: Strange Tales of New York

Posted on April 13, 2013 by

I have often waxed at great length about my love of Jean Shepherd’s radio show, here and elsewhere. I’ve written about and shared many kinds of programs of his over the years: nostalgic, anti-nostalgic, childhood tales, army tales, philosophical meanderings, … Read on! —->

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Your Future in Pictures

Posted on December 31, 2012 by

This is a picture from my grandparents’ wedding. In the middle, you see the happy couple. To the left, my grandfather’s family, the Leykamms. Most German last names have literal meanings, but I’ve never been able to determine what “Leykamm” … Read on! —->

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Ishmael vs. Ahab vs. Jean Shepherd vs. Myself: One Night Only!

Posted on August 9, 2012 by

To my father, the height of art was Jean Shepherd reading poetry. Shepherd often read poetry on his radio show–performed it, really, as vaudevillians once did with famous verse of their day. The poems could be genuinely great writing like … Read on! —->

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If You Need Any Clues…

Posted on July 13, 2012 by

It is an odd bit of coincidence that the whole @TimesPublicEdit thing blew up this time of year, which is when my dad is on my mind the most. He had a love/hate relationship with the New York Times. Or … Read on! —->

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Embracing the Audience of One

Posted on April 26, 2012 by

Years ago, I worked on a biography of Jean Shepherd, performing research and doing interviews with people who worked with him. As I’ve written on this site many times, Shepherd is one of my artistic heroes, someone whose craft I … Read on! —->

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A Sample

Posted on April 20, 2012 by

My roommate had an odd look on his face. It was an unsettling mixture of trepidation and something close to embarrassment. I thought either someone was dead or I’d won a lottery I didn’t know I’d entered. “You have a … Read on! —->

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Pledging

Posted on March 27, 2012 by

I experienced an awkward moment at a PTA meeting I attended recently. This was something above and beyond the normal awkwardness I feel in a room full of people I do not know and whose only connection to me is … Read on! —->

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Stamped

Posted on January 25, 2012 by

Of the remaining GOP presidential hopefuls, Newt Gingrich has the ugliest soul. Rick Santorum possesses some vile views on gay rights and abortion (like thinking rape victims who get pregnant should just accept this “gift from god”), but he seems … Read on! —->

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Posted in Pointless Nostalgia, Politics Schmolitics | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

A Slippery Vision of My Own Ridiculous Demise

Posted on January 9, 2012 by

It was just like a bad comedy. I stepped into the shower without first noting that there were no towels hanging up, or a bath mat laid down, either. It was such a dumb Man thing to do. I should … Read on! —->

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