Suicide In C-Minor, by Joseph Mastropiero

It’s February, 1936. Winter has left a frozen sheen on the Danube, and a fresh coat of snow blankets the house of Joseph Keller, shoemaker. Joseph Keller is dead, at his own hand. Budapest police are there, investigating, ruining the perfection of freshly fallen snow with heavy boots and cigarette butts. It appears that Mr. Keller has left a suicide note.

Continue reading

A Take on “Taste”

In determining our musical leanings, I put great stock into the constructs of our musical backgrounds. Almost irrefutably, the experiences we have with music in our pasts will determine the music we listen to in the future. “But wait, no!” you might say. “That can’t be true! Surely I’ve been lured by fresh artists into foreign genres before, some which I’d never have given a chance otherwise!” Well sure, we’ve all been there (and probably felt like quite the pioneer, haven’t we?), but in today’s modern society where genres are plentiful and tastes subjective, it can be interesting to ask ourselves from time to time a variety of questions. Under what pretenses do we make these choices? What defines our threshold for acceptance vs. rejection? More fundamentally, what is it that makes our back-hair stand on end, and where does it come from?

Continue reading

Wizards on the Road: Harry and the Potters

As I’ve said before, Harry and the Potters always put on an amazing show. The Knitting Factory in Brooklyn was a fairly small location, promising an intimate if crowded experience. The line snaked down Metropolitan Avenue, sporting all sorts of Potterheads; cosplayers like me, grown fans, young fans, first timers, and veterans, all buzzing with excitement. Like-minded people tend to make friends and the Harry Potter fandom contains some of the friendliest. Though I waited for our Producer/Webmaster, Matt Storm, to meet me, I was not lonely as I made a new friend in line.

Continue reading

Take a Load Off with the World’s Most Relaxing Song

Clear your mind…
Close your eyes…
Count to three…

WAIT! Don’t close your eyes; how would you read this article? Stress has become a prominent health risk in our high-speed, modern society. You need to find relaxation wherever you can get it. But not everyone has time for yoga, meditation, or a cup of tea. Luckily enough for you, developments in sound therapy can help you lower your blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol levels in just over eight minutes. That’s only half a coffee break!

Continue reading