Category Archives: Books, TV & Films

Because reading, watching and listening are key to living

James Durbin Has Elvis Presley’s Raw, All-American Authenticity

Posted on May 16, 2011 by Deborah White

American Idol rocker James Durbin sings with joyous abandon and raw authenticity despite wrestling with both Tourette syndrome and Asperger syndrome, which is a high-level form of autism. He sings beautifully, with perfect pitch, octave-soaring tones, ear-bending volume, and emotional … Continue reading →

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Breakfast with Buddha, Travel to Haiti or Africa, and Other Summer Adventures

Posted on May 3, 2011 by Deborah White

Ron and I began attending a book club about three years ago. We always look forward to monthly potluck meetings. Although the club is organized through our Lutheran church, we focus on popular and classic fiction (and occasionally non-fiction), not … Continue reading →

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NetFlix as Entertainment Fix on My Terms

Posted on March 17, 2011 by Deborah White

NetFlix is fun, an experience all too often lacking in my week. And in Ron’s week. As a political journalist, I spend hours every single day, Sundays included, plugged into the American political landscape… events, elections, politicians and opinion-makers, not … Continue reading →

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Scotty McCreery Will Rival Garth Brooks in Country Popularity

Posted on March 2, 2011 by Deborah White

Eat your heart out, Garth Brooks. This young cowboy crooner is poised to steal your crown as the most popular male country singer of all-time. Scotty McCreery has the soulful baritone chops to make women swoon, and the most appealing, … Continue reading →

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Yalie Amy Chua Dishes Baloney in “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother”

Posted on January 23, 2011 by Deborah White

Yale Law School professor Amy Chua dishes maternal baloney in her deliberately provocative book Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. As the mother of a Yale sophomore, I can assure that my public high school daughter did not achieve acceptance … Continue reading →

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American Idol: Too Nice in New Jersey

Posted on January 20, 2011 by Deborah White

American Idols’ tenth season debut unveiled a kinder, prettier spin on TV’s top-ranking program for nearly a decade… and the two-hour show was an adorable snoozefest. The two new judges joining 54-year-old record exec Randy “Dawg” Jackson in rating the … Continue reading →

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