Category Archives: Personal reflections

Sic Transit, Baby

Posted on January 10, 2014 by Fenster

Fenster writes: I wrote here, here and here about people who were quite famous in their day, now more or less down the memory hole.  With that in mind, I note the passing of playwright/poet/provocateur Amiri Baraka (née Leroi Jones), and … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal reflections, Politics and Economics | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Yo!

Posted on January 5, 2014 by Paleo Retiree

Paleo Retiree writes: Fun keeping track of body language, both in real life and in the media. Gestures and postures really do change over time. Think, for instance, of all the ways people have of interacting with their smartphones. We … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal reflections, Photography, Trends, Women men and fashion | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Tropes of Popular Culture: Candles, Women and Bathtime

Posted on December 26, 2013 by Paleo Retiree

Paleo Retiree writes: I often marvel at the way certain situations, characters and setups establish themselves so thoroughly that they become part of our shared cultural landscape. Think of how often we’ve watched shiny new cars zooming across the Great … Continue reading →

Posted in Commercial art, Personal reflections | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

Merry Christmas!

Posted on December 24, 2013 by Epaminondas

epiminondas wrties: The epiminondas household would like to wish you all a very merry Christmas.

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A Walk Down Moody Street OR Fenster Does Dickens

Posted on December 23, 2013 by Fenster

Fenster writes: Head west from Boston five to ten miles and you’ll find yourself in one or another affluent suburb: Newton, Needham, Belmont, Lincoln, Weston, Wellesley, Lexington, Concord or Wayland. Then there’s Waltham.  It’s actually a small city sitting more … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Personal reflections, Photography, Travel | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Artisanal Absurdity

Posted on December 18, 2013 by Paleo Retiree

Paleo Retiree writes: I present to you (drum roll, please) vodka distilled from fair-trade-certified quinoa: As someone who can’t taste much difference between vodkas, at least once we’re out of the “rotgut” category, I’ll be giving this treat a pass. … Continue reading →

Posted in Food and health, Personal reflections, Shopping, The Good Life, Trends | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

A Smugging at TJ’s?

Posted on December 14, 2013 by Fenster

Fenster writes: I missed Movember so when I woke up today sporting a four-day stubble I told my wife to chalk it up to Becember rather than sloth.  Then I donned my heavy zip up sweatshirt popular with the construction crowd … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal reflections | 12 Comments

The Two Sides of Historical Memory

Posted on December 12, 2013 by Fenster

Fenster writes: We are always reminded that we must remember the past.  True that, but it is still a slippery formulation.  Remember how?  And is it always good to remember, in all ways and under all circumstances? You can in … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal reflections | 6 Comments

Why Do So Many People in Trendy Coffee Shops Use Macs?

Posted on December 10, 2013 by Paleo Retiree

Paleo Retiree writes: Whenever I enter or pass by an upscale or hipster coffee shop these days, it’s not at all uncommon for every single person I see there who’s on a computer to be using an Apple product. Does … Continue reading →

Posted in Computers, Humor, Personal reflections, The Good Life, Trends | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

Vintage Photo Du Jour

Posted on December 10, 2013 by Eddie Pensier

Eddie Pensier writes: Grandma and Grandpa Pensier, early 1930’s. Best guesses as to location: London or Buenos Aires. Can any Uncouth readers identify the automobile?

Posted in Personal reflections, Photography | 6 Comments