Responsibility has hounded me these last couple of weeks, forcing me to lock myself away and write about uninteresting things, like how Disney, as a cultural institution, functions like a celebrity (in the sense of Joshua Gamson’s theory on the production of celebrity), thus maintaining its power and influence over mass audiences and mainstream society…..blagh. So! As much as I’ve wanted to weigh in on Rihanna, Kreayshawn, Rep. Anthony Weiner, and other little pop culture shidigs, I had to focus on the tasks that’ll get me graduated. I’m taking a day or two to let my brain decompress and then I’ll be back with a nice round-up of those things I missed out on…

In other news, Chicago is a bit under the normal temperature (per usual) for this time of year, but the day is beautiful nonetheless…and I feel inclined to share with you a few musical gems from today’s playlist that are making this day even more glorious…

William DeVaughn: “Be Thankful For What You Got”

Janet & the Jays: “Hurting Over You Boy” (a video of someone playing the record doesn’t do it justice, but hopefully you get the idea)

The Spinners: “I’ll Be Around”