College newspaper movie review launched a half-century freelance career minus journalism degree — also friendship with Dallas cineaste L. M. Kit Carson, later Hollywood star spouse and sire to Oscar nominee.

Robert De Niro’s first big role in Sarah Lawrence pal DePalma’s second feature film — before finding their genres in crime dramas and thrillers. Comedy was neither’s forte, though review spotted talent early.

Before Stevie Nicks, Anglo-American blues jam band Fleetwood Mac went unrecognized during a photo shoot in New York's Central Park. Just 7 years later the glossy hits megagroup can be found here in BOOKS, "Rock Stars", Chapter Two.

New Journalism-style portrait of the iconic American film star on location in New Mexico, battling the effects of cancer during one of his last cowboy movies — among the few in which he died.

America’s forgotten civil rights leader Margaret Kuhn, founder of the Gray Panthers near the start of her anti-ageist activism. Thirteen years later, her media-savvy tactics ended mandatory retirement in the US.

North American premiere of the full multi-media production of "Dark Side of the Moon" on St. Patrick’s Day 1973 — a memorable event in pop culture, long after the acid had worn off.

After seeing then-obscure native Texan singer-songwriter record an album in New York City, prescient to write “At the age of 39, Nelson finally seems destined for the stardom he deserves.”

On the “Billion Dollar Babies” tour with Alice Cooper, at the height of the shock rocker’s fame. After a near-descent into death above Dodge City, the violent-as-American-pie Detroit boy-next-door delivered.

Less than a decade after their beginning, the “safe” rock music papers were about to turn outrageous and explode, then die and be reborn for decades. For those there then, what a long strange trip.

First Yank article about Brit multimedia comedy stars Monty Python’s Flying Circus, before big-budget movie and Broadway musical when still a thrill on vinyl among nerds. SPAM on, chaps!

Pardon our French: “une histoire de fesse” as told in a pornographic magazine created by an Italian-American Londoner, whose New York-born son with a British accent was to be a sexy music maven!

The legendary showplace for Black culture at a historic moment, when threatened with shutdown by economic and social forces while at a peak time for talent and style. Be there now, a half-century later.

Old 45s were worth their weight in gold to collectors in specialty shops. This early byline in The New York Times included appearances by writer/collector Lenny Kaye and eccentric Philadelphia dealer Val Shively.

Meet Mr. Mike, a.k.a. Michael O’Donoghue, National Lampoon sadist and Saturday Night Live TV head rebel. He tested boundaries, turning excruciating pain into laughter — before death by brain hemorrhage.

The first national magazine to feature a Steve Jobs cover story. Compelled to wear "business garb" instead of the janitor style he preferred, Apple’s co-founder bought cheap velour and polyester at Sears for his photo pose.

About a dozen entrepreneurs working in attics, basements, and garages pioneered a totally new industry made up of 0’s and 1’s for personal computer software. Today only Bill Gates and Paul Allen are remembered.

Municipal wedding venues in five Big Apple boroughs reflected local terms of endearment. Reporting this story resulted in a high-level ceremony rudely delayed by a police riot, incited by future Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

At 92, legendary economist W. Edwards Deming was New York’s oldest active professor. Following him as he taught at three universities in a day was exhausting to someone half his age. It was also his last full semester.

Father-and-son celebrity photographers refined both black and white stars’ images for contemporary press and show biz history. Combining classic portraiture and movie-style lighting they immortalized entertainment legends.

We did start the fire. Students occupied classrooms and offices to protest war and inequality, sparking media circuses for years to come; 25 years later, classmates’ memories were still vivid, though mellowed with age.

Catching up with old friend Denny O’Neil, considered second only to Stan Lee in creating Marvel/DC comics universe. Subject to demon alcohol, he was an OG justice advocate and Joycean knot.

A friend’s personal memorial on CyberTimes, NY Times’ online-only publication, reveals how fading digital immortality can be. Today Dr. Tim’s leary.com site loops sad video of him at his desk.

Long before AI-generated thespians would generate controversy between actors, guilds, and producers, computer graphics pioneers created eye-catching synthetic movie stars.

Tim Berners-Lee, who single-handedly invented the universal knowledge interface he called the World Wide Web, was a far happier chap before social media changed everything for the worse.

The impact of the soon-to-be world's richest man, 20 years after his discovery, was a shocker then. His future rounds of philanthropy and misogony as Jeffrey Epstein's guest would prove more shocking later.

A decade and a half prior to social media turning Grumpy Cat and Lil-bub into international sensations with millions of followers across the globe, hypertext pioneers brought fleeting fame to their own favorite felines.

At the turn of the century when it was still called artificial intelligence, the threat of bot-induced obsolescence caused a journalist to ponder how much longer he could earn an honest living.

Early adopter of music compression online, most innovative rock star ever? "Jolly Roger" McGuinn pioneered folk-rock, country rock; first put rock and star in same sentence (“So you want to be...”).

Witness the advent of computerized arms for cutting procedures at U.S. hospitals in the new millennium. Now most cities have surgery suites performing dozens such operations daily on American hearts and groins.

Good stories usually require digging. Rarely, one falls into your lap. One day the doorbell rang. We had won a 1-in-13,660 shot at having our TV entertainment and news viewing make a difference, though sworn to secrecy!

Electric stimulation, pulsed far down into a patient’s brain could end the tremors of Parkinson’s disease when medicines no longer work. A miracle cure a generation ago, today implants are a standard treatment.

In pro video gaming’s early days when it was called E-sports: teams were local, venues cramped playrooms and basements. Winning prizes were in the hundreds of dollars, not the six figures for world-wide competitions to come.

Terrific scare for tabloid readers: In rare cases operating room anesthesia can wear off while paralytic drug to stop movement keeps patient from signaling surgical team of torture-level pain--OUCH!

Every week for over a year, the Daily News’ anonymous guinea pig tested over-the-counter remedies, avoiding the politicization of medicine except this once — comparing headache treatments of North and South.

Not long ago, tooth repair was an agonizing multi-visit ordeal. This preview of quiet drills, better imaging, and in-office 3-D printed crowns anticipated deployment of better tools making dental restoration a breeze.

Around the world with mathematician turned animal conservationist Jim Sanderson, seeking elusive wild cats in their habitat — to save them from extinction and help keep our domestic felines healthy.

A friend’s spouse recovering from a devastating stroke was featured in this story — bringing hope to many for full restoration of capabilities. Unfortunately, this would mark the peak of her comeback.

Operating with the surgeon who invented minimally invasive knee replacement when still reserved for health-care workers and professional athletes — now the most over-prescribed Medicare procedure.

How three med school classmates became founders of world-class biotech enterprises in New York’s Westchester county — including Regeneron, the area’s biggest employer and maker of anti-COVID ‘cocktail’.

When anti-inflammation went from foodie fad to total way of life. Soon after the Greatest-Of-All-Time National Football League QB lost it all, including G.O.A.T. model-wife. Dare you a tomato?

Why local news matters: this human-interest story would have gone unreported without a budget for freelancers. After a four-pack-a-day smoking habit, exercise kept him healthy ‘til 102.

The flow and centeredness of the gentlest of Chinese martial arts saved an aging reporter from injury many times. The combat side of the practice provided confidence; the best punch is left unthrown.

Quarterly “Plugged In” column covered the latest in high-tech gizmos, gear, and gadgetry. This time it featured a digital fitness mirror that became a hit when Peloton bought it for use by its avid followers.

Mention in NY Times piece on collecting oldies blossomed decades later into full-length feature on the eccentric Val Shively’s disk shop outside the capital of strange, Philadelphia. Visitors unwelcome.

Texas artist Jim Franklin was Austin’s ambassador to the universe. Drew armadillos, made Willie Nelson famous, presided over a legendary American local scene — only to be nearly forgotten.

Ace New York Times obituarist Clay Risen’s prior experience as a bourbon journalist resulted in a tequila drinker’s immersion in whiskey culture and good taste. Sit down, relax, imbibe.

A veteran journalist's debut published opinion piece — a commentary on political reporting. Shows there’s always time to think different, to challenge the common wisdom, and have a few laughs along the way.

This web site’s designer, San Francisco underground comix artist turned Silicon Valley interactive pioneer and friend, died at age 76. His passing was commemorated in online comics publications. He is missed by many.