Dave Brigham's Blog, page 16

"Gold Rush"

While flying to Florida two weeks ago on the way to Disney World (see December 9, 2011, "Disney Whirl"), I got hooked on the Discovery Channel's "Gold Rush."

JetBlue has TVs on the back of each and every headrest, with a good selection of channels, ranging from Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network for the kids, to HGTV, History, Discovery, VH1 Classic and all the networks for adults. So much for reading my National Geographic.

So after flipping around, I settled on "Gold Rush," which follows three g...

Disney Whirl

Walt Disney is the Love God!

I took lots of pictures on our trip to Disney World last weekend, but I find this one to be the most amazing. In a surprise twist, I managed to shed my ironic detachment while at the happiest place on Earth (good... the detachment still works) with Beth and the kids. I'd long dreaded going there, because I thought it would all just be too cheesy and artificial. And, sure, it was, but nobody does cheesy and artificial like the Mousketeers.

We went because Beth receiv...

What Are You Going to Do Next?

Yes, we got a hot tip from Phil Simms about a little resort in Florida built by a guy named Walt Disney. You might know him as the director of the 1928 animated short film, "Steamboat Willie." We're sneaking out of town today and coming back Monday. If you need to contact us, send a telegram to us care of the Contemporary Resort.

The hotel seems to be quite futuristic. In addition to a monorail that runs through the building, the staff also offer jet packs in both adult and kid sizes, to make ...

Good Times

As much as I enjoyed "Good Times," this post isn't about the Norman Lear-produced sitcom (which often, as I like to say, took the "com" out of sitcom).

No, this is about having fun over Thanksgiving with my immediate and extended family. Beth and I traveled south with the kids Thursday morning, hitting quite a bit of traffic, but still arriving at my parents' house in Windsor in plenty of time before dinner. My sister was there, as were my brother and his two kids, Grace and Isaiah.

My mother a...

Giving Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving!

I Love Lydia

Whenever I tell people I like country music, I have to quickly add, "but not the mainstream crap." I like old stuff like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash (as well as his later stuff), Buck Owens, Hank Thompson and Wanda Jackson, as well as newer stuff ranging from Giant Sand to The Derailers, BR-549 to Lucinda Williams.

And now you can add Lydia Loveless to that list. How can I not love a 21-year-old woman who's confident enough to write and record a song called "Jesus Was a Wino?" Or who covers Met...

Subterranean

I've taken so many pictures of Boston's subway system, I don't think I'll ever have enough time and space to post them all. I've posted countless albums on my Facebook page documenting the numerous trips I've taken on the MBTA with my son, Owen. I've also posted a bit on my other blog, The Backside of America (see August 30, 2010, "Going Underground").

Owen likes the different types of trains, especially on the Green line -- well, he used to before he got completely and totally absorbed in Ma...

Book Review: "Occupants" by Henry Rollins

I first heard Black Flag nearly 30 years ago, when I was in high school. I was a huge fan of the band through college and for the few years beyond. I saw them twice, and became quite enamored of their lead singer, Henry Rollins. I bought a few of his books, and saw his post-Black Flag band, the Rollins Band, during the brief time I lived in Albuquerque.

In more recent years, I've watched a few episodes of his talk show on IFC, enjoyed his talking head appearances on a variety of networks, and ...

Book Review: "After Lyletown" by K.C. Frederick

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Most people do things when they're young that they regret later on in life, whether it's driving drunk after a party and taking out somebody's mail box, getting a tattoo on your face, or buying a Haircut One Hundred Album.

In K.C. Frederick's "After Lyletown," Alan Ripley's past holds an event of heavier consequence. As a grad student in the '60s, Ripley fell in with a radical crowd that plotted to knock over a gun store and pass along the weapons to black communities struggling for their civi...

Extra! Extra! Blog All About It!

Seven weeks after I sent an entry to the Indie Books Blog, today is the day they feature my book, "(C)rock Stories: Million-Dollar Tales of Music, Mayhem and Immaturity."

You can read my blurb here; if you haven't bought the book yet, there's a "buy" link at the bottom of the post.

Thank you.

As you were....