Arielle Sallai

Bobcat Goldthwait comes to Ramona

This article was originally published in the Night & Day section of the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Those familiar with stand-up comedian Bobcat Goldthwait’s yelping shtick from the ’80s and ’90s (made famous in movies like “Police Academy 2”) may plan on bringing earplugs to his show Saturday at Ramona Main Stage.

But even though his brand of black humor has inspired countless others — Mitch Hedberg, Patton Oswalt — he’s since switched gears, directing films (Sundance selections “World’s Greatest Dad” and “Sleeping Dogs Lie”) rather than performing as his famously manic character.

Now back on the stand-up circuit, the comedian just plays himself — not that the routine is completely absent of madcap humor; there’s simply less fear of pyromania.

So this time, expect a much balder Goldthwait to deliver more traditional punch lines, rather than his old style of high-pitched, acerbic garbling.

(Source: signonsandiego.com)

Volumes try to put Sept. 11 tragedy in perspective

This article was originally published in the Weekend Books section of the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Revisiting 9/11 is never easy, but for the 10th anniversary of the tragedy, the publishing world has released a quiet stream of commemorative nonfiction. Though the discourse surrounding the terrorist attacks eventually turned toward politics and war, this selection of books brings the focus back to stories of heroism, loss and recovery at the heart of the fallen Twin Towers.

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