"War Zones: Chapter 1: Window Frames," story by Helen Gerhardt on the Buses Are Bridges blog. Pittsburgh blogger weaves together her time in Iraq with clearing out the apartment of Ka'Sandra Wade, a friend here who died in a high-profile shooting. busesarebridges.wordpress.com
The Red Star Kombucha logo. The motto is an inside joke for kombucha fans — "In Glob We Trust" refers to the rubbery "mother" culture from which the fermented tea is brewed — but the rest of the label is bright and inviting, with just the right touch of hippie-dippie.
Jar'd Loose: "Turning 13." The sort-of title track of the Chicago band's newest record, Turns 13, a lulling, loopy groove sets the surprisingly perfect backdrop for Eddie Gobbo's methodical, shattered glass vocals. It's kinda silly, kinda scary, kinda awesome: kkinda like turning 13. www.facebook.com/jardloose
I Can Barely Take Care of Myself: Tales From a Happy Life Without Kids.
Chelsea Lately regular Jen Kirkman details her reasons for remaining "child-free by choice," as well as her near-constant encounters with people who think she's just being selfish. An entertaining read for anyone in Kirkman's shoes — and a PSA for those who think that the status of another person's uterus is their business.
Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey. In this 13-episode update of Carl Sagan's classic PBS series, astronomer and world-class explainer Neil deGrasse Tyson offers a highly accessible lowdown on everything from the origins of the universe to the evolution of the human eye, complete with knockout digital effects and fascinating historical asides about people like heretic/visionary Giordano Bruno. Now on DVD.
Ultrasuede: In Search of Halston. This 2009 bio-doc about the iconic 1960s and '70s fashion designer is kind of a hot mess, but is packed with insane footage and out-of-left-field cameos. A good supplement to the current Warhol exhibit on Halston. On DVD and Netflix.
