People sometimes ask me, “Scott, what is this blog you’re always blogging about?” Sometimes, confused, they add, ”Blog.”

I try to tell them about When Falls the Coliseum, about our more than 60 writers, about our regular columns and reviews, that since Thanksgiving more than a dozen new voices have joined us, that we actually have readers and lots of fun things to read here, that they should give us a visit and tell their friends. But all some of them hear is “blog.” Everyone’s got one of those. [Read more →]

Tags: books & writing by Scott Stein
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As the closing credits roll for 2009, this column is two months shy of its year anniversary. In the spirit of the holidays and that almost anniversary, it is time to look back at the 41 movies Gail has seen and give out some awards. [Read more →]

Tags: Gail sees a movie, movies by Gail D. Rosen
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Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has been justifiably criticized for her odd statement that “the system worked” in the case of a would-be terrorist on several watch lists who boarded a U.S. commercial with explosives in his underwear.

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Tags: terror & war by Paul Davis
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In the belief that the end of the year is best celebrated by staring into the implacable face of death, here’s a roundup of 2009′s most egregious overstatements and lame eulogies written about people whose latest error in life was to pass away.

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Tags: art & entertainment, language & grammar by Neil Verma
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The past year has given women proof for their argument that men are idiots*. 2009 might appropriately be called the year of the Homer Simpson D’oh! Although we said goodbye to eight long years of George W. Bush’s antics, plenty of men are vying to take his place as the knucklehead of the year. (Listen, I know women aren’t perfect. But when do we read stories of women acting like fools? That’s right, never. That’s probably because women are not acting like fools.) Let’s recap some of the men who unraveled in 2009 and the lessons it taught women. [Read more →]

Tags: his & hers by Nancy DeGregorio
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It’s nearly the end of the year, and you know what that means: lists. And ferret-wrestling matches, though I don’t want to get into that now. No, the end of the year is a time when we look back, and compile lists of things. And happenings. And celebrity deaths. Usually ordered backwards, though in the case of the famous the lists are usually ordered by cultural importance or the number of original teeth the celebrity had at their death.
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Tags: diatribes, ends & odd by Mark A. Rayner
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Every morning, the first post on my blog is titled “Thought for the day.” It is simply a quote I find interesting from a writer (usually, it’s a writer) born on that date. Recently, the one I chose was by Italo Svevo, author of The Confessions of Zeno: “God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December.”

This struck me as a magical turn of phrase. [Read more →]

Tags: language & grammar, that's what he said, by Frank Wilson by Frank Wilson
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The following 10 words and phrases can be added to the previous list of 10. Both lists can be printed out, kept in wallets and purses, taped to the bathroom mirror, and given away as gifts. I like all of my friends and family and would hate to lose anyone. [Read more →]

Tags: diatribes, language & grammar by Tyler Samien
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It’s the end of the holiday season, but the memories are fresh in our minds.  Since Christmas is supposed to be a season of giving, let’s use those memories to respond to a request that I defend the assertion that “Nature selects against purely altruistic behavior”.  Jump in the car of your imagination, crank ‘er up, and drive with me to the local Wal-Mart parking lot of two weeks ago…

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Tags: environment & nature, religion & philosophy by Mike McGowan
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I worked as a bouncer/bartender for many years while I was in college.  As the New Year’s parties get kicked off on Thursday evening, here are a couple of things to think about when you run into the guy at the bar wearing the funky colored shirt with “crew” or “security” written on the back.

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Tags: drugs & alcohol by Mike McGowan
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