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 →

Hi everyone, Welcome back, and a happy Friday to you all! What's on the schedule for this weekend? I've got a few errands to take care of, but I'm mostly looking forward to some garden time and maybe a bike ride. Oh, and Good Omens is finally out on Amazon Prime Video, so we'll have to get started on that. BDH and Little Buddha can't wait to see David Tennant and Michael Sheen as a devil and angel who are out to stop the apocalypse. They're particularly excited that there's a dog in the story. However, let's check out today's... 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 →

Hi everyone, Welcome back! Come on in, have a seat. What's going on? There was a lot of running around here yesterday. I got in my first bike ride of the year, which was nice. Did my usual route, but at a lower gear than normal. It was enough to get my heart pumping without feeling like I was going to die on the first hill, which is always the balance you want on your first time out. I also had about two hours in the garden, which was just what I needed. The tulips are finally starting to show,... 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 →

Hi everyone, Welcome back! Come on in, have a seat. The day is off to a rainy start, but that's okay. It's good for the plants, and I think it's supposed to end later this morning anyway. Speaking of the plants, I got a couple of hours in the garden yesterday, which was terrific. In addition to the plants beginning to return, this is also the greenest the yard has looked in a while, so that's a bonus. Anyway, let's check out today's headlines. BDH and Little Buddha made some coffee, so grab yourself a nice medium DD, because it's... 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 →

Hi everyone, Welcome back! Come on in, have a seat. How are you? The sleeping adventures continue this week. Something woke me up at 3:00 this morning. The details don't matter, but everything was resolved somewhere around 3:30. However, I was wide awake and kept staring at the clock. You know those times where you sleep for say, 15 minutes, but it feels like you were awake the whole time? Well, that happened to me for the rest of the night. I must have woken up 10 times between 4:00 and 5:30, so that was a bit of a drag.... Read more →