Here We Go Again: Another NHL Lockout
The worst part of being an addict is the lack of a fix. I’m an NHL addict. I read NHL blogs, listen to NHL podcasts, follow NHL writers and players on Twitter, and even had a brief writing gig for a hockey blog (a weekly column about fantasy hockey). Heck, I even had a weekly … Read more
Snark Madness
I’m a big fan of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, commonly known as March Madness. As a 64-team [*ahem* 68, but who's counting?] single-elimination tournament spread out over roughly three weeks, there’s simply nothing else like it in college or professional sports. The first and second rounds alone consist of forty-eight games in four …
Not a bang, but a whimper
This week marks the full-scale beginning of DC’s Universe-wide reboot, but before we hit the reset button on every superhero’s origins and adventures, it’s worth acknowledging the end of one of the longest running comic series in history: Action Comics Volume 1. The first issue, which came out in June 1938, it the holy grail … Read more
Year One: Readers’ picks
As part of the celebration of our first year, we reached out to some Idler readers and asked them to share their favorite pieces from the site. – Suzanne Fischer: Duck decoys, lost laptops, and a necklace to grieve with: Teal Amthor Shaffer’s post “Souvenirs” is a bittersweet exploration of the emotional power we invest … Read more
Year One: Editors’ picks
The editors of The Idler are a shadowy, self-effacing crew. But to help celebrate the site’s birthday, they put together a list (in no particular order) of some of their favorite pieces from The Idler‘s most frequent columnists. It’s been an amazing first year, and they claim to be very much looking forward to the … Read more
Dating and taxes
Listen up, tricks. I’ve been struggling with something lately, and that something is online dating. I’m not looking to online date per say, as I’m more than a little bit taken, but I’m not exactly asking for a friend either. You probably don’t know this but online dating sites are very prominent tools in the … Read more
Brandon comes back
Last week, Detroit Tigers third baseman, catcher, centerfielder, oh-hell-put-him-anywhere-and-he’ll-play guy Brandon Inge was called up from the Tigers’ Triple-A affiliate in Toledo to join the starting lineup against left-handed pitchers. A ringing endorsement, I know. Inge was assigned to Toledo earlier this season when his hitting, never stellar, totally bottomed out — .177 in 239 … Read more
A Moscow Mule, in a copper mug
I am mainly a beer drinker, but I like to say I am an “equal opportunity drinker,” so I will try anything once. When I was prepping for my recent journey to the Keweenaw Peninsula (some 550 miles away from me in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula), I reached out a friend who attended college in the … Read more
To the mattresses
It’s been a red letter summer. I finally accepted Boston as my home. I climbed a mountain. I ate octopus. I fell deeply in love with John Steinbeck. His words soothed me during the hottest of July days like a cool stream in the Michigan wilderness. His discussion of sin in East of Eden even … Read more
