Crime. I like to focus on the scandalous, salacious, headline-grabbing ones — the crimes that rip apart families, destroy lives and keep you up at night. That’s what people want. Or, at least, that’s...

 My father, who has always loved metallica, has passed down such love to me. And I listen to Metallica every day, intent on combating internal agony with external agony. In terms of agony, the most painful...

 Joey Bada$$ released his debut mixtape, “1999,” in 2012 when he was just 17 years old. “1999” addresses complex issues, such as police violence and drug abuse, beyond the typical grasp of a...

 You may or may not be surprised, but I hate films about high school and teenagers in general. Why? It’s very simple: The teenage and school experience is not as romantic, humorous or exciting as it’s...

 After seeing Childish Gambino and the Lumineers in concert, I told myself, “Damn, I need to go to more concerts,” but never followed through. Similarly, when I hear a track from a new artist,...

 What a summer for Boston sports! For anyone who forgot to check the local news, the Red Sox traded franchise player Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants for three pitchers and an outfielder —...

 “Sermon on the ’Mount,” the first episode of “South Park’s” 27th season, is quite crass, remarkably crude and pointedly vulgar. Yet, creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker hit the nail on the...

 In 2010, snow heaped on cars and bare trees along Pinckney Street in Boston. My dad stood outside with his shovel, boots and a bag of sidewalk salt, fulfilling the civil duty of sidewalk shoveling,...

 It’s the beginning of the end for the Boston Celtics. On May 17, the Celtics lost to the New York Knicks by a crushing 38-point margin and were eliminated from the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Just...

 In my last column, I examined one of my favorite films, “Gladiator,” regarding my concept of modern competition —how we have replaced fighting for our lives with competing academically. In another...