Why It Matters

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  • Deep Cuts: Songs for Ten Resolutions

    So you’ve decided that 2012 is the year you drop that dead weight, whatever his or her name is, or take a trip to Greece while it’s still there.  Here are some songs to soundtrack your resolutions.

  • All is Quiet on New Year’s Day

    All is quiet on New Year’s Day,  and so am I.  Fortunately I happen to have a New Year’s story in my back pocket.  It’s a bit of a rough read but what can you do?  Growing up is a rough sport.  Fun fact:  The following piece gets me more misdirected Google searches than any…

  • Ventriloquism For Dummies

    The following is a piece of thinly veiled fiction that I wrote several years ago and haven’t found a home for.   I concede, oh great magazine publishers — it’s not for you at this time and I’m glad that you appreciated the opportunity to review it.  Maybe it’s a piece of junk, I don’t know. …

  • Deep Cuts: The Obligatory Christmas Playlist

    I swore that I wasn’t going to do this, but here we are just two days away from the big day and I can’t bear the thought of you listening to the same shitty Christmas music for another minute.  So here it is, my gift to you:  Eight deep Christmas cuts.  Sorry about the frankincense…

  • Deep Cuts: Songs About Fighting

    Have you ever seen lion cubs wrestle?  Humans are no different, especially boys.  We go through a period where we behave like badasses even though the overwhelming majority of us aren’t.  We carry around weapons and puff out our chests and talk about all of the ass we’re going to whup.   Most of us outgrow…

  • 58. I Can’t Wait For You to Operate

    Every kid thinks that his or her hometown is boring.  As you read this a pimply Manhattan teenager is complaining that there’s nothing to do. Mon ami in Paris is so disgusted with his drag-ass city that he’s tamped out his cigarette in the middle of his baguette.  Down in Amarillo the kids are sick…

  • What Every Record Store Window Should Look Like

    The Beat, Sacramento, California.  A truly great record store.

  • Deep Brushstrokes: Musician-Painters

    In rambling about The Beatles’ White Album I mentioned something along the lines of the band at that point being three great artists and Ringo off in separate corners making art.  Coincidentally, the other day on the intergooglewebtubes I watched a clip of KISS’s Paul Stanley talking about the three million bucks in paintings he…

  • 57. I’d Give You Everything I’ve Got For A Little Piece Of Mind

    I’m desperate —  my tank is empty.  The notebook hasn’t been marked up in days.  I turned on my iPod today and a tumbleweed rolled across the screen.  For the first time in over a year I missed a “Why It Matters” Monday deadline, and I likely will miss another unless I publish this slop.…

  • Rocking It Sears Wish Book Style, 1975

    Oh yeah, this could all be yours if Mom and Dad weren’t stupidly thumbing through the snow suit section of the catalog right now. Related “Why It Matters” piece:  https://jamesostafford.wordpress.com/2011/11/27/56-the-brightest-fireplace-glows-in-every-face/