As if I wasn't already bemused enough by PubliCola music columnist, MusicNerd, I just received an email from him that included this claim: 

I will be out of town for the next two weeks recording a rap album so while I will still send you columns probably the other stuff will have to wait until the middle of March.

Roger that.

UPDATE: Asked for a little more of an explanation (our soft-spoken colleague is flying out of state to record a rap album?), Anand, that's MusicNerd's name, responded with another email. One-line only: 

I am the greatest rapper alive.

Who knew?