Late this past January, the world of Internet music writing exploded with a back and forth dialogue about Brooklyn-based band Vampire Weekend, starting a line of commentary that culminated in a cover story by Spin, one of the most widely circulated American music magazines. Read more...

Forget the days of forced country line-dancing lessons in the elementary school gymnasium with partners plagued by two left feet and country music crackling through an outdated stereo system. Read more...

The spontaneous aspect of improvisation can create a pressure-filled and nerve-wracking environment. Read more...

From the elementary school kids bum-rushing the dodgeball courts to see a lunchtime throwdown to the most affluent Vegas high rollers sitting ringside at the MGM grand, Americans love watching a good fight. Myself included, as I found out while getting hooked on Discovery channel's ineffable "Fight Quest." Read more...

Ah, the romance of courtly love "“ pert British accents, richly adorned British bosoms and frantic love triangles resulting in beheading. So it's really a shame that while "The Other Boleyn Girl," based on the best-selling novel by Philippa Gregory, is a fun spectacle, it's also unintentionally funny in all the wrong places. Read more...

What with the use of toy planes, plastic dolls, cardboard cities and pizza-splatter brains, shooting a movie never seemed so blithe. Read more...

In 1984, the San Jose-based musical group Los Tigres del Norte released "La Jaula de Oro." Read more...