Around the block

Writer’s block. It comes for even the most accomplished authors. When the creative tank is running on empty, one of the most useful places to fill it up is in another book. Vox gets recommendations from four Columbia writers for books to read when the creative juices aren’t so juicy.

Helmet v. No helmet

On Saturday, May 16, the Missouri General Assembly sent legislation to Gov. Jay Nixon about helmet use for motorcycle drivers 21 or older when they’re not riding on highways. VOX examines both sides of the issue.

On the job: Entrepreneur

Cooper’s Landing belongs to one Mike Cooper, 60, who in 1983 took off to Costa Rica in an old pickup truck to see a solar eclipse and the comet Kohoutek, which he regards as one of the most rewarding experiences of his life. He bought the one-acre spread past Missouri 163 along the Missouri River in 1986, founded the music venue and campground in 1995 and has been battling Mother Nature ever since. As a child, Cooper says he didn’t have a lot of ambition and lacked a plan. Now, he works seven days a week and an astounding 16 hours per day to maintain the venue. His hair is pepper, his mustache is salt, and as he cradles a Miller Lite, Cooper’s sitting in the basement of a mobile home raised six feet above the ground. It’s a good job — until the river floods.

Channel Surfing

Vox guides the way through channel surfing. Check out what you should be watching on Monday night.

The good, the bad and the ugly

The good Found Boy! Joshua Childers walked away from his home in Arcadia. After a couple days of searching, the 3-year-old boy turned up in the woods near his house. How’s that for hide ’n’ seek?

Break on through

It’s 3 p.m., and Chris Teeter’s office is a hot mess. In his disheveled white studio, rusty metal clamors for attention against tape measures, saws and screws — all of it chaotic. It’s like being backstage at Tool Time, the combined clutter adding at least five degrees to the cramped room.

Spicy salsa

By producing a rare sound and music you can dance to, Los Desterrados isn’t just another undistinguished group of musicians.

Vox asks Columbians

What is your worst camping experience?

Music Mix

Coping with stuff

Sometime in the next few weeks, I’ll be packing up my life and moving out of Columbia. As much as I feared moving here, I’ve formed a special bond with this place, more specifically my apartment. Compared to everywhere else I’ve lived, the rent is extremely affordable, the staff is super-friendly, and my property has a pool and fitness center. It’s pretty fantastic.

Meaningless clutter or treasured heirlooms?

People hate getting rid of stuff. So much so that the self-storage industry in this country did more than $20 billion in sales last year. The gaming industry did $21 billion. MU doctoral student Alex Gunz, who researches materialism, thinks this is representative of the eat-everything-on-your-plate mind-set of American culture. Nothing goes to waste.

Lit up

The key cast members come from different backgrounds and have different expectations for what Lit will bring them. Director Brian Maurer hopes the show’s premier will happen late this summer.

Hi, my name is...

How much do you love your name? One day someone might taint it by becoming obnoxiously famous.

The Yankee Years - Review

(Web Exclusive) George Steinbrenner, owner of the Yankees, always demands the best. In 1996, Steinbrenner chose Joe Torre as the team’s 18th manager in 19 years, and Torre miraculously stretched his employment to 2007. Steinbrenner’s decision was controversial as Torre had just been fired from the St. Louis Cardinals after five years of mediocre managing. Throughout its 500 pages,The Yankee Years praises Torre’s managing techniques unabashedly. But when managing the baseball team with the highest major league payroll how much success is based on his personal genius?