Smells like Best Of

Welcome to this week’s Reno News & Review.

What did John Barrette call this style of column? A potpourri column?

At any rate, did you remember to tell all your talented songwriting friends to enter our songwriting contest? We still have some details to work out—like specific prizes—but we’ll probably be working on that stuff right up until the voting goes live on Sept. 1. To enter, go to www.newsreview.com/reno/ballot/renomusicsubmission. Also, I know we’re still looking for sponsors. If you want to get involved in this worthy effort, give RN&R General Manager John Murphy a jingle at 324-4440 ext. 3515.

We’ve already some entries. Jeez, that $500-value top prize is almost in your pocket.

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You know what else is coming up? Our 95-word short-fiction contest. We’ve been doing it for 14 years now, so I guess most of you know the rules.

The stories are exactly 95 words excluding title (as counted by Microsoft Word). For those who’ve never seen the contest, last year’s winners can be found at www.newsreview.com/reno/content?oid=697254.

Send your snail-mail entries to 95-word Fiction Contest, c/o RN&R, 708 N. Center St., Reno, NV 89501. E-mail to <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript">{ document.write(String.fromCharCode(60,97,32,104,114,101,102,61,34,109,97,105,108,116,111,58,114,101,110,111,102,105,99,116,105,111,110,64,110,101,119,115,114,101,118,105,101,119,46,99,111,109,34,62,114,101,110,111,102,105,99,116,105,111,110,64,110,101,119,115,114,101,118,105,101,119,46,99,111,109,60,47,97,62)) } </script> and put Fiction 2009 in the subject line. All entries must be received by 5 p.m. on Aug. 18. Selected entries will be published on Aug. 27. Include contact information, including name, address and telephone number.

Would everyone please remind me to move this contest to the spring next year?

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What is it about summer that makes all those summer albums of years past acquire new meaning? Dang, those old REM, Stone Temple Pilots and Red Hot Chili Peppers songs are really hitting home out on the back deck as I watch the battling hummingbirds tear through the hot twilight.