Let's get this out of the way right at the beginning: Clearing out the Clutter is adamantly pro-dog. We talk to every dog we see on the street (often ignoring their owners), we've got a blue dog running the office (just look at the picture on the right side of this screen), and if forced to say who we like better between people and dogs, the pooches win 99.9% of the time. Long story short: Dogs rule. However, we also appreciate the magnificent and fascinating creatures commonly known as cats. Whereas a dog will make it clear you're the greatest... Read more →

Anthony Bourdain was a hero to many people around the globe. The renowned chef/author/TV journalist spent years highlighting the beauty of the world and our commonalities, through the vehicle of food, and there was no one else like him. That's why it was so devastating when the news came out about his death by suicide in June 2018. His fans felt like they'd lost an advocate, a travel guide, perhaps a motivational coach, and a friend who often appeared on TV from some fascinating location trying a food many of us had never heard of before. His loss still stings... Read more →

Although it's been closed for 25 years, many people still have fond memories of seeing movies at the Concord Theatre. This classic style theater ran for sixty-one years on South Main Street, providing a mix of mainstream hits as well as smaller films. Theresa Cantin was the guiding force behind this longstanding community institution. With the renovated theater scheduled to re-open this year, this is a great time to look back at the building's past, as well as the history of the movies in Concord. That's just what Paul E. Brogan has done with his new book, The Concord Theatre.... Read more →

Howard Stern has evolved, and the results are fascinating. The man who dominated terrestrial radio with his "shock jock" persona has undergone some significant personal growth since moving to Sirius XM 13 years ago. Stern thrived for decades on being outlandish and chasing career success with a "him vs. the world" mentality. There wasn't a rule he wouldn't smash with a sledgehammer. Then he moved to satellite radio where there are no rules, and suddenly, there was nothing to rebel against. That new landscape, along with years of therapy, and his happiness with his current wife Beth, have resulted in... Read more →

Doctor Who fans still have a long wait ahead of them before Season 12 arrives next year. If only we had a TARDIS to help us speed things up. However, Titan Comics has a way to help you pass the time with the release of the new graphic novel: Doctor Who: The Thirteenth Doctor Volume 1. (Release date: May 7, 2019) Comic book writer Jody Houser and artist Rachael Stott join forces in this collection to show the 13th Doctor in peak optimistic form as she tackles new challenges with her friends Ryan, Yaz, and Graham. The story seems to... Read more →

Cecile Richards has spent most of her life as a "troublemaker," whether it's organizing labor groups across the country to unionize and improve their economic situations, or leading the defense of reproductive health services. The daughter of former Texas Governor Ann Richards and a civil rights attorney, Cecile Richards understands that activism is a critical component of our democracy, and it is not a spectator sport. She, along with co-author Lauren Peterson, lays out the story of her life, and tells of the incredible courage of so many women (and a few good men) she's known, in her book, Make... Read more →

"With the lights out, it's less dangerous Here we are now, entertain us I feel stupid and contagious Here we are now, entertain us" With those simple words, Kurt Cobain and his Nirvana bandmates exploded onto the national music scene in 1991. They ended the "hair metal"/cock-rock era seemingly overnight, as they immediately reset musical tastes across the country with their combination of punk rock mentality and a strong pop base. Cobain and company were the modern-day Beatles with their immediate and revolutionary impact, but unfortunately, their rise came to a screeching halt with Cobain's self-inflicted death in 1994. However,... Read more →

Lane Moore is a woman of many talents. She's written for The Onion and been the Sex and Relationships Editor for Cosmopolitan. She is also the singer for Is It Romance, as well as a stand-up comedian known for her Tinder Live shows. Now, Moore is also the author of a new best-selling book: How To Be Alone: If You Want To and Even If You Don't. It's a combination autobiography, discussion of how we deal with each other, and a reassurance that loneliness is not some type of personal failure. The book is funny in spots, hard to read... Read more →

Gianni Russo is best known by many people for his role in The Godfather as Carlo Rizzi, Connie Corleone's abusive husband who sets up Sonny Corleone to be murdered. (Sorry if we gave away a spoiler there.) However, it turns out that appearing in that classic film is only one of the many fascinating stories Russo has to tell, and he shares the others in his new book: Hollywood Godfather: My Life In The Movies And The Mob. (Release date: March 12, 2019) Russo grew up in a challenging home situation in Little Italy in the 1950's. A chance encounter... Read more →

Monty Python's Flying Circus first aired on the BBC in 1969, and comedy would never be the same again. Five Brits from Cambridge and Oxford teamed up with one American to break all the rules and create their own distinctly intelligent, surreal, and silly skits linked together by Terry Gilliam's offbeat animation pieces. This group created an underground television hit in the United Kingdom before eventually bringing their antics to the big screen and the United States, where they maintain a devoted following some 50 years later. There's no one better qualified to discuss Monty Python than the group members... Read more →