Events

Hi friends, Three things I loved in the ’90s: Cubavera cabbie shirts, Mazzy Star CDs, and Chandler Bing — Chandler (hanging up a phone call): “I got her machine.” Joey: “Her answering machine?” Chandler (incredulous smirk): “Uh, no, her leaf blower picked up.” Thanks for the laughs, Matthew Perry. We’ll never forget you. Now, on […]

One Halloween, when I was maybe 9 or 10, my mom found a beat-up old hat, put me in one of my dad’s ragged weekend shirts, rubbed charcoal on my face, and sent me out trick-or-treating as a “bum.” And, no, I’m not over it. I mean, what kind of message does that send? It’s […]

Hi friends, Dear Trader Joe’s, In regard to the sign at the Front Street entrance of your fine store in downtown Santa Cruz, closed since the pandemic — I don’t think you know what the word “temporary” means. Happy to lend you my dictionary. Just trying to be helpful, Sincerely, Just Some Guy. Now, on […]

Hi friends, Anyone else notice how we seem to have broken the habit of “decade think”? Back in my youth, people spoke of decades as distinct eras — the Sixties, ’80s hair, etc. — because it was linguistically easy to do so. The first two decades of this century made it a bit more awkward […]

Hi friends, I recently heard some sports commentator guy say of 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, “that dude is A.I.’’ I don’t think that he was claiming that Purdy was a robot, just that he was exceptionally good at what he does. Something tells me that little piece of slang is going to stick around for […]

Hi friends, Some new words I find amusing and I vow to use them as soon as it’s appropriate for a dorky old white dude to do so. I haven’t said yet in the wild that something “slaps,” but it’s coming. On the other hand, some new words make me want to step in front […]

Hi friends, Some time in the next week or so, the ongoing Hollywood writers strike will become the longest such strike in the industry’s history. Will the suits ever learn that everything begins with good writing? Take care of your scribes already. Now, on with the show. This Just In! Living legend alert! The great […]

Hi friends, I was the sixth person in line at the market the other day, and I noticed that not a single person waiting in front of me was looking at a cellphone. Records show that hadn’t happened since *checks notes* April of 2011. I would have taken a photo to capture this rare occurrence […]

Hi friends, Memo to Burning Man: There’s this concept you guys should look into. Let’s call it a “natural lifespan.” Things do end, you know, and that’s not always bad. There comes a time to take a bow and make a dignified exit, though “dignified” is probably too late in your case. There is a […]