Category Archives: Au Courant

Who is Bob Benson?

Posted on June 4, 2013 | Leave a comment

Fact: the internet is a great place to air out your mind’s eye. Let’s do this!

I’m not so into weighing in on the same old things everyone else is, and none of us are here for that. However, one pop culture phenomenon I have stuck in my craw is the character Bob Benson on Mad Men.

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Who is he? Of course the internet has already asked that question many times over. I’m forever hearing it last when it comes to real-time TV. In fact, I like to delay my DVR viewings for marathon slob sessions, so I’m not up on recaps and I’ve adapted modern-times habits like not reading twitter too carefully on certain days of the week to avoid spoilers.

Things I usually do instead of reading recaps or watching episodes unfold in real time:

– Gently defocus my eyes while I’m working to give everything a dream-sequence feel
– Abstractly wonder what are all of the things I’ve forgotten
– Stare into space (that kind of combines the first two)

But for some reason I have a passionate theory about who this character is, and I would like to share my thought. I simply think he’s pulling a Kramer.

I can’t believe I’m posting this nearly 48 hours after the last episode has aired. Are you hearing it last, or just differently? I don’t know if I’m ready for this ride!

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Posted in Au Courant, I Need Answers, Question of the Ages

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Step Into…

Posted on July 7, 2011 | Leave a comment

The “Step Into…” series highlights people, places and things that make the world my kind of place.

Footwear is a real BUGABOO in the world of ladies and the things they need to make it in this world. For me, every time the need for a new shoe comes around, I find myself rolling the dice of life and wishing on a rainbow that I can find something comfortable AND stylish. Hilarious!

In the great style recycling vortex that is our contemporary time, someone somwhere along the line decided to breathe life back onto the Bass line of shoes just in time for summer. I took a chance on love and never looked back, and came unto the inspiration for the “Step Into…” series: Step into some SUNJUNS!I remember moms wearing these sandals in the 80s, and sure enough their style fits perfectly into the 2011 summer canon of breezy but sensible sandals. They require no breaking-in or band-aid period. The soft suedey instep (or whatever your foot touches that isn’t strap) is like walking on a cushion of air, and my left Sunjun proves this with a satisfying, whispery hiss as I walk.

I even have a song about Sunjuns that I sing on a daily basis: Step into your sunjuns, sunjuns, sunjuns. Step into your sunjuns – I don’t think so!

See, stepping into your Sunjuns is a state of mind. It’s about deciding to wear something comfortable that’s great for relaxing or walking around. Maybe you’re going to fix yourself a snack, or go for a walk to a friend’s house. Maybe you’re going to the office and you’re like,”I can’t believe it’s only Wednesday, I’m gonna step into my Sunjuns.” Or, “You know what kind of day it is? I’m gonna step into some Sunjuns.” So even if you don’t own Sunjuns, you can step into a world where comfort, and looking like a relaxed 80s mom – are kings.

Sun Jun - also a former world #1 singles badminton player from China

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Posted in Au Courant, Step Into..., Summer Jams

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Song of 2011

Posted on June 10, 2011 | 1 comment

When summer hits, the temps go up, the party shades come out, dogs are strutting their stuff, bare feet are visible and everybody wants to know – What’s the Big Summer Hit? Well as you can imagine I’ve got one heck of a hunch!

I have been hacking away at this post for the better part of a cheese sandwich, so as I was about to post I thought, “I better google this very question to make sure I’m on top of my blog game.” Finger on the pulse, people! It turns out Stereogum posed that very same question today. Today! Are you hearing it here last – or at the same time? Totally zeitgeist.

I was relieved to see that my prediction is neither one of this year’s pop frontrunners, nor was it a summer jam in its day. For the summer treat that can’t be beat, might I recommend a nice piquant 1983 vintage called Heart and Soul?

At the crossroads of David Lee Roth and Daryl Hall vocal emotions is Huey Lewis, blue collar bar-rock creampuff.

In this amazing video, Huey gets seemingly lost at a party in Williamsburg circa now looking for the gal who will called him at 2 AM.  See, she left him at nine o’clock this morning. Where are you, heart and soul? You’re hot and cold! You’ve got it all!!!

What a Party

Huey you better close that door quick – there’s a train coming!

Pop this sucker on your iComputer and blast it poolside, beachside, at a similar Williamsburg party, or at an outdoor eating gathering aka BBQ and people will say things to you like, “Where have you been all my life?” and “I want to hear this song again – right now!”


Bonus points for the languorous JerseyShore fist-pumping and Vampires of the night referencing contemporary cultural overtones.

Good night Huey and Heart and Soul lady.

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Posted in Au Courant, Ditties, Summer Jams