Tony Horwitz, Baghdad Without a Map: And Other Misadventures in Arabia

Before Confederates in the Attic, there was Baghdad Without a Map, Pulitzer Prize winner Tony Horwitz’s first attempt at capturing reality travel. Overseas covering Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, Horwitz rambles throughout Arabia in search of a good story. As his copy is turned down for publication, he chews qat with the Yemenis, plays soccer with the Dinka and struggles with his future.

Speed Scrabble

Who needs double letter scores? With two sets of Scrabble letters and lightning fast spelling speed, the dour old word game becomes a mind-challenging whirlwind of fun. (Stop laughing.) Turn all the tiles upside down in the middle of the table then draw five (or seven) each. Flip ‘em over and try to make a word, or two, or three. It can be totally freeform and you can rearrange however many times you wish. Whoever uses all their tiles first yells draw and everyone must draw a tile. Next person to use all their tiles yells draw and so on and so forth. Repeat the process until all the letters are gone. First to finish is naturally the winner. The Scrabble dictionary doesn’t apply here and challenging would just be a waste of time.

Tift Merritt, Bramble Rose

Tift has vocal chords that fire notes like arrows. Her debut album exposes a bit of a softer side as her rawness is dampened by studio sterility. Live shows do her the best justice. However, the gifted singer/songwriter and guitarist is not to be overlooked.

Douglas Coupland, Microserfs

Define a Generation Xers novel – perhaps the text would include Legos, emotional breakdowns, flat foods slipped under office doors and yes, Microsoft. Coupland’s characters search for identity amongst the masses, love and a fulfilling career and somehow supreme dorkiness is made cool.