Why is AMC, understood to be the channel of American Movie Classics, airing Timecop starring Jean Claude Van Damme? While I am pleased that their definition of Classic no longer rules out anything shot after the advent of color, I am worried that they may have broadened the definition of “Classic” a bit too far.
Before I am accused of being a film snob with a limited understanding of the fan appeal “the Muscles from Brussels” garners I should out myself as someone who caught every JCVD film during my …

I present to you the first set of student I Admire… Contributions. I hope there will be many, many more.
I admire laughter for breaking the uneasy silence of any occasion. ~ Lindsay H.
I admire that softball that’s coming towards me for giving me a story to go with the bruise. ~ Brittany W.
I admire dandelions for spreading themselves everywhere even though they are unwanted. ~ Casey G.
I admire dew for reminding me that not everything has to change. ~ Heather W.
I admire the cat throwing up in the morning when …

I admire is a collection of micro writings that consist of a sentence that follows the format:
I admire _______ for__________________________________, as in
I admire the squiggly lines that appear under misspellings for calling attention to my faults with gentle criticism.
-and-
I admire catcher’s mitts for reminding me that some things do get better with age.
Other than strict adherence to the above format the only other rule is that what is admired may not be a person.
Be creative. Stretch the format. Enhance the idea. Don’t even consider the box.
E-mail contributions to The Collective …

If you don’t know this SNL skit you really should. It is of great cultural importance. I can’t say it rivals the great works of literature, but it is one of the premiere works of television sketch comedy. I often use “cowbell” as a replacement for the french “Je Ne Sais Quoi”, which is defined as “an inexpressible something” literally meaning “I do not know what.” Whatever it is that drives the piece and makes it work, which varies piece to piece, is its cowbell. …