As spring sends you outdoors in pursuit of fresh air, exercise, and greener lawns, let Blogcritics be the one place you go to stay current on all things literary, cinematic, musical, and newsical. There's tech for the non-technical, coverage of E3 for the gamers, and more. As usual, we opine all over the place.

Let me remind those of you who are chosen that you are invited to submit your own pick for next week (due to space considerations, please limit it to one). Please feel free to email me your picks (including the URL) by next Tuesday.

MUSIC

From Music Editor Connie Phillips:

Modern Pea Pod's Megan Giddings delivered as only she can in CD Review: Demolition Doll Rods — There is a Difference, giving a wonderful detailed synopsis of the album as well as sharing some memories from an early live performance she attended.

In Concert Review: John Martyn - Wolverhampton Daniel Woolstencroft shares more than just the details of the show with the reader. He digs deep and gives us a peek at his life.

DJRadiohead reminds us all in Confessions of a Fanboy 005: Glen Phillips - Mr. Lemons how music has a way of comforting us when we are sad, and celebrating with us when we are happy. Oh yes, he also gives an extensive review of the CD too. It's definitely a must read.

BOOKS

From Books Editor Natalie Bennett:

Book Review: High Lonesome: Selected Stories 1966-2006 by Joyce Carol Oates by Nik Dirga
There's often a temptation when writing reviews to sit on one's high horse, to assume the pose of expert addressing the masses, whether you've got the knowledge to justify that or not. But Nik begins this review by admitting that this is the first of Oates's work that he had read. Then he infectiously shares his enthusiasm for what he discovered - much better than pontificating!

Book Review: Sleeping on Potatoes by Carl Nomura by Sujatha Bagal
Similar infectious enthusiasm marks this review. Sujatha fairly sets out the faults with the writing in the memoir of an "ordinary man" living an extraordinary life, but also celebrates a "story of determination, perseverance, kindness, love and good humor ."

TV/FILM

From TV Editor Joan Hunt:

House - "Euphoria" by Diane Kristine
I never feel so bad about missing an episode of House as long as I know Diane Kristine's around. Providing insight into the characters with whom she's become quite familiar, she always offers a view of the show that others fail to get.

Dateline's "To Catch a Predator" by Tony Figueroa
This is a must-read for parents. Dateline's series of pedophiliac-nabbing shows should be required viewing for anyone who allows their kids unsupervised online activity.

CULTURE

From Culture Editor Diana Hartman:

Cumulatively, North Americans can claim ancestry from every country, religion, culture, and language in the world. For many Americans, the familial lines are blurred beyond recognition by generations of mixture with those whose familial lines are also blurred. When faced with so many forks in the road, seeking out who we really are can be daunting. Sometimes it's easier to seek out other cultures and assume them as our own - a sort of reverse immigration, if you will. In Cultural Archaeology: Finding Your Past, Richard Marcus eloquently points out the inherent disrespect we bring to others and our ourselves when we treat the cultures of the world as little more than a cafeteria from which we can freely sample.