In ‘Identical,’ Scott Turow explores how far twins will go for each other

Scott Turow paints a painful situation in his latest novel, “Identical.” Turow is an attorney as well as a writer, so it’s expected that in this 10th novel, he brings back some of the court room characters readers know. But this time, Sandy Stern is merely a background figure, a guy who defended Cass Giannis…

I must watch the golf in Kapalua

Every sports fan in the U S of A was watching the NFL playoffs late Saturday night, right? The Saints just scored another second-half touchdown to go up on the Eagles 20-7. But there was still 3:06 left in the third quarter. Considering what we saw the Colts do overcome a 28-point deficit to break…

I’m more likely to win Powerball than direct my bowling ball into the 5-7-10 split

For some reason, I was leaving a lot of splits up there on lanes 5 and 6 during my bowling league Thursday night. Three red numbers in a row in the first game, in fact. One of them made me grab my iPhone to chronicle the moment. The other bowlers on the lane looked on…

The new Paranormal marks its spot in the spooky series

It’s a scary weekend out there on the new-film front. Coming to theaters today is the fifth installment of the “Paranormal” series. “Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones” follows the travails of a young guy who crosses paths with something truly evil. This scary franchise has made it to picture No. 5, so it must be…

I finally submit to ‘Gone with the Wind’

The first time I had the chance to watch “Gone with the Wind,” I turned up my nose. My memory of walking into the crowded student union lounge sticks with me still. I was in hot pursuit of a bigger TV and comfortable chair to watch some football game or another. My initial thought as…

Wishful thinking, meet reality in Syracuse, N.Y.

When I pulled into my driveway this morning after a Vanity Appointment visit with my friend Theresa at Hairy Notions, here is what I saw on my car dashboard. Notable to me was the real-life temperature here in Syracuse, N.Y., a whopping 14 degrees. (The forecast for tomorrow lists a high of 2 and a…

Watching the Rose Parade opens a window to memories

The Tournament of Roses Parade is must-see TV in our house. My dear wife Karen loves watching because the Jan. 1 tradition was part of her life while growing up in Los Angeles. I love watching because Karen’s commentary is better than the crews of NBC and HGTV (commercial free!). And, oh, yeah, the floats…

I will call 2013 life-changing

I am quite ready to say goodbye to 2013. It was the year in which I was told I had to change my last name. No more would I be “Mark Bialczak of The Post-Standard.” And yet life went on. Bring on the New Year’s Eve tradition for my dear wife Karen and I. We…

Oh, Christmas Tree, how long will you stand?

The first been-there, done-with-that Christmas trees of this season appeared at curbside in my Syracuse city neighborhood on the morning of Dec. 29. Two of them were set out, in fact, out of the couple hundred houses that Ellie B, aka Dogamous Pyle, and I passed on our 45-minute, Sunday a.m. walk. Ellie B made…

After bowl Friday, Syracuse is up, Maryland is down

That was some bowl day for me Friday. One down, one up. My alma mater Maryland lost in the Military Bowl by falling apart defensively in the final quarter. I was not happy. My 30-year hometown team Syracuse took the Texas Bowl title with a last-minute touchdown against Minnesota. I danced around the living room.…