From Pastor to Bastard: Spiritual Masochism I was the one who dressed up as Jimmy Swaggart when I was a kid. I was seven, maybe eight-years-old, and there was nothing more entertaining to my imagination than pretending to be the then famed preacher.

Ding Dong Family Circus: A Glee Club, Because No One Else Is There’s an excitement that’s undeniable in Billy Mitchel and Maddy Davis’ presence. Mitchel smiles as an interview about their glee club project, Ding Dong Family Circus, became a conversation of ideas to hash out. Davis’ enthusiasm wraps the moments with laughter and delight as she looks over a notepad, cluttered with names and song titles.

Bigger Legos: The Art of Mike Stasny The first time I met Mike Stasny, last fall, he gave me a painting. No introductions, no exposition; he just whirled up to me as I looked at this painting, took it off the wall, and handed it over. I walked away wondering who this hyped up, magical forest creature in a suit had been.

Power Rankings of Hatred for the Week of 2.25.13 Karma: I’ve never been certain if I believe altruism actually exists, but the less cynical side of me wants to think that it does. But it seems pretty obvious to me, because we aren’t all murdered, that people generally do more good or neutral things than bad things. I would attribute this to humans understanding the basic elements of economics, stuff like someone probably won’t be willing to trade with you if you’ve hit them in the head and taken their shit.