Harris Online Blog
Daily throughts from Paul Harris
Hey, Bo Diddley
Hearing a Bo Diddley song playing in a restaurant recently reminded me of seeing him in concert. I’ve never seen a performer turn the crowd against himself the way he did that day. I tell the story here.
MYMNK: “Lee”
I have a new entry for my Movies You Might Not Know list, a 2023 biopic with Kate Winslet giving an amazing performance as a fashion-model-turned-war-photographer who captured historic images during World War II. Here’s my review.
“Materialists”
Here’s my review of a new romcom starring Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Chris Evans which differs from others in its genre thanks to writer/director Celine Song.
TSA + CBP = HUH?
When we flew internationally recently, we encountered new policies put in place by Customs and Border Protection and the TSA which made no sense. Here’s what I mean.
Dr. Demento
As 84-year-old radio legend Dr. Demento prepares to hang up his headphones, here’s a conversation I had with him about his career — and how it intersected mine.
“Sound Of The Surf”
Here’s my review of a new documentary about surf music, which exploded in popularity in the early 1960s in southern California thanks to musicians like Dick Dale, The Ventures, and The Surfaris.
Random Thoughts
Quickies about the demise of an online service I used for years, my annoyance at limes and lemons, an upside to print newspapers dying, and things that should disappear from standup comedy specials.
Worst Theater Idea Of The Year
When I read there’s going to be a Broadway version of this classic movie, I thought it was a joke. But it’s real — and an incredibly stupid idea. I explain why here.
Best Thing I’ve Read Today
At a time when liars and deniers run our country, “Jeopardy!” legend Ken Jennings writes about how the game show is one of the few places left in our culture where facts matter.
Cancelling Yosemite
We were all set for our first visit to Yosemite National Park, but a new report about absolutely disgusting conditions there has forced us to cancel our plans. Here are the details.
The Poundstone Colbert Conundrum
I have been a fan of comedian Paula Poundstone for a very long time, but her latest appearance on Stephen Colbert’s show seemed very odd to me. Here’s why.
“Mission Impossible: Final Reckoning”
Instead of writing a regular review of “Mission: Impossible — Final Reckoning,” I offer this simple thirty-point plot summary.
The End Of WTF
A few thoughts on Marc Maron announcing that his podcast, “WTF,” will come to an end this fall.
Why We Travel
One of the reasons we enjoy traveling so much is having experiences we can’t have at home. Here are some examples from our latest trip.
Loretta Swit
Upon hearing of the death at 87 of “M*A*S*H” star Loretta Swit, I dug into my archives to find this conversation I had with her in 2004.
The Berlin Wall Memorial
While in Germany recently, I visited the Berlin War Memorial, which offers a stark reminder of how governments can literally keep people apart.
Fountains, A Lake, and A Waterfall
Today’s entry in my Germany-Austria trip diary is about fountains, a lake, and a waterfall — which all put a smile on my face.
Spaetzle Edition
Here are some more stories from our recent vacation in Germany and Austria — focused on food and transportation.