There are certain deep, important questions we should all take the time to ask ourselves from time to time.

Like whether "smooth" is a quantifiable quality in music or would Hall & Oates win a back alley song-off against Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins.

Is there something political going on this weekend?

Like most folks down here at Press Herald Plaza and at news outlets around the state we've been getting flooded with news releases and updates from candidates and their emissaries.

Strangely enough all these dispatches seem to go right to my Spam folder.

All that stuff I was saying before about autumn being my favorite time of year was lies, absolute lies. It is a miserable, awful time of year. Also, I hate pumpkin beer.

Sorry ... the view from the windows here at Press Herald Plaza is aggressively bleak. Gray and soaked for as far as the eye can see ... which is up to the top of Munjoy Hill ... until the fog sets in.

It's been a pretty busy week here at NXT. We chatted with our buddy and resident film aficionado (don't call him a snob) Videoport Jones, had a lively discussion about the widening generation gap, and talked about the future of music.

Which thankfully brings us to the weekend. It's one of the few summer weekends left - spend it wisely.