Day 501: The Origin Story Of Jeans

originally published May 15, 2013 When Jacob Davis wandered into the Levi Strauss & Co. wholesale dry goods company in San Francisco to buy some cloth, he had no idea he was going to change the world. Or maybe he did. People always ascribe an automatic naivety to the great inventors, as though everything had […]

Day 500: The Chains Of Deceit – A Piece of Wikipedian Noir Fiction

originally published May 14, 2013 As a one-day deviation from the normal, I’m going to cast off down the waters of fiction for Day #500. Having always been a fan of Raymond Chandler / Mickey Spillaine style hard-boiled detective fiction, that’s the direction I’ll be pointing my shadow-blanketed fingers. Imagine the chiaroscuro lighting, the weather-beaten […]

Day 499: A Neophyte Gives Doom Metal A Spin

originally published May 13, 2013 It occurred to me today as I was tidying up my kitchen and listening joyously to Michael McDonald and the Doobie Brothers sing “What A Fool Believes” that perhaps I should pen an article about doom metal. To be clear, the sum total of doom metal CDs on my shelf […]

Day 498: When Bakeries Go Bad…

originally published May 12, 2013 In a world ever dominated by franchises, chains and faceless corporations, I try to support local businesses whenever possible. It’s always a little victory for our world when a small business clangs that sweet bell of success, and earns a place adding personality and variety to a community. That victory […]

Day 497: Dust (And Bloodshed) In The Wind

originally published May 11, 2013 To say the Civil War is the twisted, green corn chip in the snack bag of American history would be as much an understatement as it is a weird metaphor. It’s not often that you see so many people fight so vehemently for the right to deny other human beings […]

Day 496: Beware The Lioness Of Brittany

originally published May 10, 2013 The traditional picture of a pirate tends to be a grizzled, foul-smelling slab of stubbly, scowly grit. Many people imagine the unkempt, wild-haired deck-swabbers who served under Johnny Depp in that series of movies about the Disney ride. But – Keira Knightley aside – you won’t usually see the image […]

Day 495: Gridiron Sneakery At Its Finest

originally published May 9, 2013 If you’re anything like me, then the NBA playoffs are not exactly sparking your motor into overdrive. I’m surrounded by people who bleed hockey, and even though our lowly Oilers are watching the NHL playoffs from their well-worn sideline seats, you can almost hear the visceral whoosh of mouth-froth around […]

Day 494: The Moxley Murder – A Cold Case Reheated

originally published May 8, 2013 Every so often I like to dig into a juicy murder story. Maybe it’s my ghoulish dark side, or perhaps the powerful influence of Murder, She Wrote’s Jessica Fletcher on my young brain, but a slowly unraveling murder mystery is a thing of beauty. Of course, when the story is […]

Day 493: Combing The Chemtrails Conspiracy

originally published May 7, 2013 The typical hierarchy of a conspiracy theory is that there are the people with the facts and those who are in on the conspiracy. Those with the facts are eager – some may say ravenously eager – to share them, to bring more of the public “into the know”. Conspiracy […]

Day 492: Tasting With The Best Of Them

originally published May 6, 2013 Having been an avid wine drinker ever I was eight days old and Jewish law demanded that I receive a belt of Manischewitz whilst some stranger slashed at my shvantz, I still can’t wrap my brain around wine reviews. Seriously, after spending my childhood sipping on dry red during every […]