For no particular reason, I've been trying to think of musicians who were/are successful simultaneously as solo artists and as members of a group. These are the first ones that come to mind:

• Gwen Stefani and No Doubt
  
• Rob Thomas and Machbox Twenty
  
• Fergie and the Black Eyed Peas
  
• Phil Collins and Genesis
  
• Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac

Who else?

I’m a little slow off the mark with my new year’s resolutions, but here they are:

• I will post to my LiveJournal at least once a week.
  
• I will write or call my mother at least once a month.
  
• I will eat less, exercise more, and lose at least 25 pounds by March 31.
  
• I will rearrange, renovate, and/or refurnish at least two rooms of my home.
  
• I will get ( Read more... )

Most of you already know that the Muppets have been experiencing a renaissance on YouTube. I've posted some of these links before, but I wanted to collect a few of my favorites here on LiveJournal - as much for my own convenience as for the enjoyment of others.

• Stars and Stripes Forever
  
• La Habanera
  
• Ode to Joy
  
• Bohemian Rhapsody
  
• Carol of the ( Read more... )

There are several devoted Stephanie Meyer fans in my office, and they're all very excited about the new movie. Naturally they expect me to have opinions (whether I've read the books or not), so I've been forced to give this series more attention than it deserves. I take the following positions:

• Vampires do not sparkle.
  
• Stalking is not romantic.
  
• ( Read more... )

Flashing swords and fancy footwork - I just can't get enough. Forget about whether the rest of the movie was any good; these five duels keep me on the edge of my seat every time I see them.

• Connor MacLeod vs. The Kurgan (The Highlander)
  
• Inigo Montoya vs. The Dread Pirate Roberts (The Princess Bride)
  
• Qui-Gon Jinn & Obi-Wan Kenobi vs. Darth Maul ( ( Read more... )

We all know folks who are feeling the pinch lately. Useful advice is hard to offer, because everyone handles pressure in their own way, but here are a few things that work for me.

• Get lost in a good book. Old favorites are best; new books demand too much attention, and the suspense could kill you.
  
• Feel the music. Give me a comfortable chair, a ( Read more... )

I have more stuff crowding my desk that any two people in the office: style manuals, reference books, print samples, awards, coffee mugs, shot glasses, picture frames, Father's Day cards, sea shells, puzzles, toys ... the accumulated detritus of six years and more. A few items that have occasioned comment recently include:

• Plush Shakespeare
  
• Baby ( Read more... )

Wolverine launched the summer movie season, for better or worse. Here are five more movies I'm really looking forward to.

• Star Trek (May 8)
  
• Terminator: Salvation (May 22)
  
• Night at the Museum 2 (May 22)
  
• Up (May 29)
  
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (July 15)

How about you?

I've been around the world and found that everybody loves what they're brewing ... (apologies to Harvey Danger). I feel a little guilty about not having a German label on the list, but then I've never actually been to Germany. This list is based on my own purely subjective tastes and experiences.

• Shiner Bock - The best thing about living in Texas ( Read more... )

Our DVR has about a hundred episodes on its hard drive. Some shows just accumulate, like the season of Heroes that I'm sure we'll get around to watching sooner or later. But there are a few that never have a chance to pile up; we always watch them within a day or two. These five are our "must-see TV."

• Life
  
• Leverage
  
• Burn Notice
  
• Castle
  
• The Daily ( Read more... )