Don’t judge so quickly, coach

When the coach played by Kevin Costner in “McFarland, USA” takes one look at the the situation he’s gotten he and his family into, he’s an unhappy fellow. But then Jim White learns he shouldn’t just assume stuff, a pretty good lesson for a man who’s a teacher. And by the time the Disney movie…

Martinfest generates another year of fun

Year three of Martinfest was not bigger in the numbers sense. The oh-so-cold and you-gotta-be-kidding-me snow just may have kept some folks away from the private get-together in the Syracuse city parking lot across the street from the official Winterfest. But the Martins — sister Michelle, brothers Scott and Kevin and cousin Jason — were…

Snow four dogs high

Ellie B aka Dogamous Pyle’s got to walk. No matter how high the snow gets in our Syracuse city neighborhood of Eastwood. On this weekend morning, the extreme cold of this February being a bit less crushing, my dear wife Karen joined us on the two-block loop to nearby Norwood Park. I asked her to…

The Sing-Off soars live, and it’s all because of the voice

I hear it often when I decide to write about America’s continued fascination with the singing competition, whether it be “American Idol,” “The Voice” or “The Sing-Off.” But watch them I do, on FOX for the first through double-digit years now, and NBC for the last two for a shorter but equally devoted duration. Why,…

Word says ‘Star Wars 7’ will kill off a character

The latest round of speculation surrounding the seventh installment of the “Star Wars” frachise says a beloved character from the initial triology will not be left standing a the end of “Star Wars Episode Seven: The Force Awakens.” In my weekly Fim News blog today on the Syracuse New Times site, I quote writer Joseph…