It’s time to contest all these contests.

Science & Nature Column
Written by Nathan Mattise
I would never expect to win a raffle, a lottery or any of the “be the fourth caller” type of contests. However, whenever any caveat including some semblance of skill is added to a competition… suddenly I find myself diving in head first.
Take the recent PopCandy Guest Blogger week. [...]

Trivial Links: Help cultivate indie credibility in your adolescents…

Entertainment Trivial Links
Written by Nathan Mattise

No kid will ever be disappointed by a coloring book gift. If you want to impress a child’s older brother or sister though, try this: the YBP Indie Rock Coloring Book.

Speaking of kids, I don’t think it’ll take much convincing to find a financer for this Mister Rogers documentary.

My grandmother [...]

What’s one more blog? Especially if it’s for Ira Glass…

Arts & Literature Column
Written by Nathan Mattise
I hate to have long periods of time without posts, even professional blogs avoid it knowing it could deter traffic in the short-term future. Unlike professional bloggers, I make my living working with students. Two weeks of 14-hour a day student training isn’t optional.
Instead of leaving the site completely [...]

Syracuse Football is certainly winning off the field.

Sports & Leisure Column
Written by Nathan Mattise
Malcolm Gladwell’s article on how underdogs increase their chances of success by using unorthodox approaches is great in theory, but how many entities have actually utilized it?
Well, I know of at least one.
Saying SU Football is in a rough stretch would be a tremendous understatement. Greg Robinson pioneered the [...]

July CNY Music Podcast: The Best Albums (From The First Half!) Of ‘09 and John Legend in Albany

Geography | Entertainment Podcast
Recorded and produced by Nathan Mattise
The great debate for 2009’s midway album of the year is complete. Take a listen and then read on for the rest of the CNY music news for July.