I’ve often considered what it must be like to be in the studio. Sometimes I wonder if it’s like having to write a term paper . . . You feel like there’s something you want to say, but it’s always just a sentence or two away. Or, if it’s like writing poetry for the people you love, fun and inspired. Maybe it’s like both experiences. hmmm . . .

the A&M sessions
What an informative piece on the history of the A&M Studios! Evidence points to Zac as being the author. It sounds like an official school report in some places . . . as compared to another article I believe he writes, included later. He personalizes the facts though by taking us with the family as they retrace their steps back to the studio in L.A.

You almost can’t believe that they are doing the "same trip, same van, same purpose" . . . I mean, hasn’t their life changed drastically since 1996 . . . couldn’t they charter their own plane and have someone else haul their stuff out there? But no, it’s really Hanson!! You just know that they stopped in the same rest areas on the Interstate that you do. You know the ones—where you browse those racks of "KOA Campground" pamphlets while you wait for the rest of the family still in the public restrooms.

out of the studio and on the beach
You thought I would be straining to reserve judgement on those photos! By the time I received MOE (today, October 25^th), it was old, old news. My thought was, "It’s really not that big of a deal." I mean, viewed in the context of the human sandcastle section of the article, it’s all innocent fun. And like my "Grandma" Aggie likes to say, "I’m all FOR innocent fun." (Okay, if you really pressed me on this issue, Taylor’s picture is a tad on the "beefcake" end of the spectrum, but hey, the guy is on a surfboard and that’s what it’s all about, no? And, my roommate, Mary, commented that Zac’s picture is a little strange . . . it looks like it was taken by Mackie or something.)

This mini-lesson in surfing is really wild! The writer has an uncanny way of bringing you along for the ride by including his thoughts as he retells the events. My favorite part is his description of his emotions: ". . . it takes your emotions to the most primal of places, to a place that you have never quite experienced before." I grew up in Virginia, and as a young girl I was caught in many, many swirling waves where you feel completely out of control—possibly close to death—and completely at peace, in the exact same moment.

I really wanted to say this piece is written by Isaac, for some unexplainable reason . . . there are just some phrases that sound like him. But, in my final analysis . . . it’s got to be Taylor. (Evidence: "You can feel the awesome power of the surf, the earth’s most amazing natural phenomenon, forming underneath you." à Who else, but Taylor?)

Off topic: Speaking of the violence of the surf, my friend, Mary, went boogie boarding in San Diego with her brother. She tells about getting her back twisted in a wave and thinking she’d need to visit the chiropractor. Suddenly, another wave hit her and spun her in the other direction and the kink twisted back to normal . . . This story always makes me laugh.

E3: Judgement Day
I could literally hear Zac Hanson’s voice as I read this article. First of all, who loves and dominates video games the most?!! People who can’t answer this question, probably don’t even own Middle of Nowhere. More evidence to support my theory: ". . . if a bomb was dropped [at E3] one-fourth of the North American video geek population would be completely wiped out." Who else, but from the mind of Zachary Hanson? hehe

itznewz
As I read this section out loud as we were fixing dinner, you could hear some "Awww"s when I got to the part about Zac picking a seat right next to George Lucas at the screening of Star Wars, the Phantom Menace. It’s so cool to hear the guys’ take on these events. It’s evidence that the band is still amazed by the opportunities their position has offered them. Meeting George Lucas and the Isley Brothers . . . yes, even performing at the Women’s World Cup . . . that’s how much meeting you would mean to your fans, Hanson!! But, I digress . . .

My favorite part of this column is when Isaac (I believe he wrote these three blurbs.) reveals that "I was a better referee than player" when talking about soccer. How big brotherly and so sweet!

chatroom
Not as outrageous as other MOE FAQs, but the rattail issue and the auction warning is critical Fanson information!! Wait, does that mean the $1,000 I spent last week on Taylor's rattail at eBay WAS real? ::snicker::

netpick
I believe Amanda petitioned and actually predicted this site as netpick about a year ago!! Way to go! How do I love this site, let me count the ways. hanson in clay-o-vision has been a long-time fav of mine, not to mention I’m a regular worshipper of these two webmasters. Congratulations Daniel and Cynthia on countless hours of molding, molding, molding those hilarious figures and wickedly funny story-lines!!