EMC Level

I really like these seats. Elevated right behind home plate. Ready to see Buchholz throw some gas.

-- Posted from my iPodPhone

The More Things Change the More They Stay the Same

Tony Allen is still the dumbest/worst player in the NBA.


-- Posted from my iPodPhone

Two Weeks

Last night at the Orpheum a slightly different taste of Grizzly Bear than the ACL performance:

I think the indoor performance added some nuance that really wasn't there in Austin last weekend. The harmonies were just as amazing, but the lights enhanced the eeriness of their sound. In addition to the bass, the bassist rocked out a flute, clarinet, baritone saxophone and about 200 pedals.

Reading over that last paragraph, and knowing we both love the band, I'm realizing that this kind of commentary is really more delicately handled in the hands of chimchim (who thanks to the perils of doctoral programs (ie reading and writing), has been unable to write about music in a while). There is so much amazing music floating around right now (Jack White has a 3rd band I just discovered, The Dead Weather), I officially challenge him to write more.

Back of hand to chimchim's face.

Tuning Our Own Instruments

-- Posted from my iPodPhone

A Little Taste of ACL

Grizzly Bear:

That little FlipHD is known for taking good video, but the sound (considering I was in a large crowd and still kind of far away) is kinda great.

I Need to Watch More Sports on TV

In the last three weeks, we've had, in my opinion, two of the best calls in the last 20 years (or at least as far back as I can remember). First, there was the Gus Johnson Nervous breakdown for the Denver/Cincy game:

Now comes the reaction to Mike Blowers spot-on prediction of Mark Tuiasosopo's first major league homerun:


If this is a sign of the NFL Season/MLB playoffs to come, I'm watching more TV this fall. Gus Johnson, I know you'll be back come March Madness time, but what you got Marv Albert?

Greatest Action Figure Ever

-- Posted from my iPodPhone

Fun With Big Bird

What the Weather?

As it stands now, this is the weather forecast for ACL in Austin, TX this weekend:


All I can say is, "Really?" Austin, Texas is an oasis. The weather in October should be perfect (low 80's and sunny). ACL takes place in a (every year except 2008) lush, wide-open park with multiple stages and a lot of walking-and-standing. It should be a ridiculous time. Rain? Unacceptable*.

*Rain is more acceptable than the 2008 "Dust Storm."

Hey Tobin Bridge, How Are Ya?

Good? Good, glad to hear it. Listen, I'm just calling to apologize for those GFY's I threw your way about traffic, construction, etc. It wasn't your fault. You were just trying to make things better and now your roads are all smooth and your lanes are all wide and Kramer-luxury-lane-like. Tonight it took me 8 minutes to get from the South End to Revere, two months ago it took an hour! Awesomeness. Please extend an apology to your parents for me as well.

See you next Tuesday.

Later.

grill

Celebrities With For Insurance

Look, I think this is reasonably funny:

But the truth is, arguing about "insurance company profits" really misses the point. It's hard to argue that public insurance companies should operate in an environment where altruism drives business decisions. We can regulate the insurance industry to the point where they are forced to cover everyone, focus on reducing costs, etc., but they will always answer to shareholders and their boards. They will always try to use the "market" to maximize profits. I understand we tend to be incrementalists in the US when it comes to changing things that have established histories, but really, this is a fundamental debate about whether or not you think everyone should have health insurance (in a way that doesn't bankrupt everyone) or not. That simple.

Dear Neil Patrick Harris

I love you.

That is all.

Twitteleh

If ever there was a website that my mother would love (and by love, I mean love even more than how much she loves forwarding me "WaRNinG: MUST REad" emails (yes, uneven caps are an accurate representation)):

That said, with a readership of about 10 here, two of whom are family members and one of whom shares my brain, RZ isn't too far from Twitteleh as it stands.

Zero-Sum

I'm back from vacation! Amazingly, the weather in NYC is nicer than what we had for ~1/3rd of the time in Greece.

Unrelated to my vacation, I thought this post was pretty obvious from Matt Yglesias, but as he points out (obviously), it's not too obvious to the news media (or Charlie Cook). Just because Obama is less popular than he was, doesn't mean the Dems are likely to get crushed in 2010. Republicans are much less popular. Maybe not everyone finds them as unserious as I do, but (especially with the current Senate seats contested in a year) I think a Republican return to power seems much less likely than the news media makes it seem.

MXP

Crappy Chicken Sanwiches and airport employees who don't speak a lick of English...this layover is bringing back memories from fall '07's EPIA solar conference. Bad news all around.

-- Posted From My iPodPhone

Stranded in Mykonos

Not the worst place to be stuck for an extra day.

Book your mother-effing ferries early!

-- Posted From My iPodPhone

Acropolis

Even trendy rooftop bars have a nice view at night.

-- Posted From My iPodPhone

Greece

Possibly the most anal packing job of my life (do not insert horribly inappropriate joke here (do not use "insert" for a second inappropriate joke)).

-- Posted From My iPodPhone

Youth at the Open

Safina survives, but that was the second first round match that a top 3 seed should have lost in the women's draw. Venus looked terrible last night, but her young Russian opponent tightened up and couldn't close it out.

Yes, I am watching women's tennis.

Snow Leopard

Apple has done a great job reducing packaging. Who needs an enormous box for one small disc? It's like my old BMG subcription was just renewed. I wonder if Use Your Illusion III is inside.

-- Posted From My iPodPhone

SFO Security

Oh, you mean I can't wear my steel-toed shoes and ginormous belt buckle through the metal detector? I will wait until the very last minute to figure that out.

-- Posted From My iPodPhone

Sweaty Goatee

-- Posted From My iPodPhone

The New Narraganset

Swill no more!

-- Posted From My iPodPhone

Ortiz

Pre-AB glove tugging routine.

-- Posted From My iPodPhone

Wake Has It Dancing Tonight

-- Posted From My iPodPhone

Redesign

It's a work-in-progress...as are my skills in Illustrator, Photoshop and Dreamweaver.

Corner Bistro

It's true. Awesomeness.


-- Posted From My iPodPhone

I Am Not Good At Golf

Today I put a tee shot through a nice lady's minivan window. Yes, I hit a 7 iron about 175yds, which seems crazy to me. But I also didn't land it on the green. Or the fairway. Or the rough. Or the road. I landed it in her back seat. I don't feel so bad, she was parked right next to the green (I missed by about 15 yards to the right if an elevated green, next to the clubhouse) and obviously I will cover whatever her insurance does not. Also, holes 12-16 and 18 were sub-100 pace. Still, a broken car window, I think, is the sign of someone who needs more practice. A lot more practice.


-- Posted From My iPodPhone

Between Two Ferns

I think this might be my favorite one yet. In honor of the "Mad Men" Season 3 premiere:

Lucky Strike

To quote Deaner, "I've never seen more gangley dudes without girls in one place in my life. Remind me not to come here on a Saturday night."

-- Posted From My iPodPhone

It's a Setup

I understand the view of some of the neocons here, but I think they really miss the point of what's happening when they go on The Daily Show. Jon Stewart generally does treat his guests with respect (even the real buffoons), but this comes after he typically murders them during the opening segment (though not usually on the same episode...unless you are Jim Cramer).

However, a quick scan of the tags (or so conveniently organized on the Comedy Central Daily Show site) gives you an idea what Stewart says about these guys when they aren't sitting across from them:

Bill Kristol

Newt Gingrich

John Bolton

Mike Huckabee

Am I saying that Stewart is a dishonest broker when having the conversations/debates? Not necessarily. He does ask questions and admit when he's wrong. He doesn't shout down guests and tell people that they are a disgrace to their deceased parents. But he does gives his audience plenty of background on these characters before they come on the show.

I mainly think it's because he's smarter than them (or more accurately, is more interested in letting reality/the facts dictate his opinions) and is able to outmaneuver them because of a lack of idealogical rigidity. Stewart certainly falls on the political left and is clearly an Obama fan, it's not like watching HuffPo TV or something.

Solo Releases from Dan Auerbach & Patterson Hood

Been a little longer than I would have liked since I posted some music, so let's get back to business, shall we?

In the process of looking for some kind of theme to link any songs that I like together, I realized that I have recently been listening to 2 solo albums released by the lead singers of 2 bands that I happen to really like. Up first, Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys.

The Black Keys are a nasty, old school, crunchy sounding blues-rock band from Dayton, OH. Just 2 guys, and they make a lot of beautiful, beautiful noise. Dan Aurbach does much of the singing and song-writing, and it's clear on his solo album, "Keep It Hid" why that is the case. Auerbach's solo work reveals a more thoughtful and slightly softer side of the musician, but it's no less stellar. For some reason, this solo release did not get a ton of press - despite a decent critical response - which was surprising given The Black Keys recent rise, due largely to their collaboration with Producer/DJ/wunderkind Danger Mouse on their most recent album "Attack & Release." This is the opening track on "Keep It Hid" complete with the slight country-influenced sound that seems to color 75% of the music I listen to.

Dan Auerbach - Trouble Weighs A Ton

Next is Patterson Hood, lead singer of The Drive-By Truckers. They've been around for quite some time, and are right in my musical sweet spot - classic- and country/southern-influenced rock, but I have to admit to only recently getting into them. Patterson Hood has ventured out for 2 solo albums, and this track comes from his second, "Murdering Oscar (and Other Love Songs)," which is quite good. Definitely worth checking out. Some crunchy (there's that word again) guitars and a solid twang to his voice, along with a pretty unapologetic and non-revisionist look at Southern life and history in his lyrics. There's definitely a bit of Camper Van Beethoven sound to Patterson - and to the Drive-By Truckers - which is never a bad thing.

Patterson Hood - Heavy And Hanging

This is Satire, Right?

I laughed my ass off at the closing shot (the guy in the wheelchair should be auditioning for SNL!).

Funny People and Grill's Favorite Lazy Idiot

I saw Funny People yesterday and quite liked it. It's been getting some fairly bad reviews for being too serious and not "Apatow" enough and containing some fairly blah acting performances. But I think it's been unfairly criticized. This, apparently, puts me in the same camp as Grill's favorite lazy idiot, Ross Douthat. (His commentary can be found here). I'll save my general feelings about the movie until the bottom, but first, a little bit of a response to what he had to say...

First:

"No recent movie has made the case for abortion look as self-evidently awful as "Knocked Up," Apatow's 2007 keep-the-baby farce."

REALLY?

I find it hard to take anything he says seriously after a comment like that. A "keep-the-baby farce?" While I think it was pretty ridiculous that that movie mentioned abortion once (because clearly anyone in that situation - ESPECIALLY a reporter in Hollywood - would at least broach the subject), I have a hard time believing that was an intended purpose/message of the movie (i.e., "keep the baby"). In fact, I would go so far as to say that Apatow likely left out that discussion specifically to appeal to a large portion of this country who would have written it off on principle if that discussion had gotten to direct, serious or graphic. To take the fact that they did keep the baby, which - as you know - like DROVE THE PLOT OF THE ENTIRE MOVIE and suggest it was a sign of social conservativism is (to take grill's line/complaint) both quite lazy and reeks of backwards rationalization/reasoning.

More goodies (baddies?):

"Tolerate a much more abortion regime" (emphasis mine). Posted without comment, but with nausea. (Which I guess means I posted with comment. So sue me).

"We wring our hands over stem cell research." We do? Who are the "we" here, exactly? Know your audience, at least a little, even if you are the conservative op-ed voice at the Times.

Douthat uses this all as support of his argument that, "we’re conservative right up until the moment that it costs us," and again, I think I will ask: who are the "we?" America? Because I'm not in that camp, and - judging by our most recent election - I'm certainly not alone. In fact, I would argue that people are liberal up until the moment that it costs us. Last time I checked, it's generally more expensive to be a liberal, what with our paying for more services, higher taxes and everything else that we get accused - somewhat rightly - for doing.
< /Douthat criticism>

Onto the movie itself:

As I said, I really liked it, although I'm still feeling pretty deflated about it, which is how I was feeling when leaving the theater. It paints a pretty gray picture of everything, which I think is probably a more accurate depiction of many aspects of life and relationships than what usually gets shown to us in movies, but that doesn't generally leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside. I think the fact that the movie descended into something of a Greek Tragedy in the second half was actually kind of refreshing. Yes, it was a little schizophrenic, but I think that life and relationships (especially marriages) are all over the place and clearly full of conflicting feelings and situations, and the movie did a good job of giving that feeling. Coupled with the fact that the first half was legitimately hilarious, and I genuinely liked the movie.

On the other hand...

I thought that Seth Rogen kind of sucked (he's just not a good serious actor...his idea of acting appears to be making lots of different uncomfortable faces to convey various emotions), and I also thought that Jason Schwartzman, who I generally like, was pretty thin. BUT, Adam Sandler was fantastic, and while I think many people will probably think that Eric Bana's character was supposed to be fluffy and despicable, I actually thought he was pretty good and redeeming [ducks lightening bolt].

My biggest gripe about the whole movie was the big fight between Leslie Mann & Eric Bana. That she slipped into that Aussie accent annoyed me so much. What the hell was the purpose of that? Was that her suddenly standing up to him, when she never would before? Was she trying to throw something back in his face? It just struck me as totally out of place and unnecessary. She was finally, although somewhat misguidedly, revealing her true feelings and yet it came across as trying to get a cheap laugh.

And speaking of Leslie Mann: I found it pretty clear that Apatow is madly in love with his wife...the way that he shoots her is pretty intense. Lots of closeups and very flattering lighting. While she did a serviceable job, I don't know that I needed all of that. Then again, it's not about me.< /disjointed criticism>

Bill Maher Gets It Right

So occasionally he goes a bit overboard and gets too extreme in his viewpoints for my liking, but more often than not, I find my opinions aligning fairly closely with Bill Maher's. This op-ed piece on the Huffington Post does a pretty nice job with things. And note, this is not completely partisan, he calls out members from both sides of the aisle for their ignorance/stupidity.

The Highline

-- Posted From My iPodPhone

2 Videos: She & Him and More Dawes!

She & Him, Zooey Deschanel's band (with the fantastic M. Ward) and vehicle for further entrancing indie guys, has lent a song to a (500) Days of Summer-related music video. It's my favorite song of theirs, "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?" and the plot line of the video kinda sorta maybe a little matches the trajectory of the relationship in the movie. Either way, good stuff. And, as SMcG points out, Joseph Gordon-Leavitt is becoming the straight Neil Patrick Harris...Enjoy.

And for those of you unconvinced about Dawes, I offer the following. Covering Joe Cocker covering The Beatles...I wish they would have played this at either of the 2 shows of theirs that I was at.

Leave My Grandpop Alone!

I think my favorite thing is all the protestors who complain about government run healthcare who are already on Medicare. Lack of self-awareness is a highly common American trait.

Live Nation Must Be Struggling

This list of discount tickets is straight out of 1994:


Queensryche? Collective Soul? Better Than Ezra? KMFDM? Best "Least Appealing Discount Ticket List" ever.

One for Summer, One for Fall

I was in Boston over the weekend, and it was a quintessential New England summer day on Saturday: mid-80s, clear sky, slight breeze, (what felt like) several hundred thousand people walking Newbury St. It was perfect. I certainly don't feel much like Boston is home anymore (it hasn't really been for over 3 years, and that stint was only 8 months), but - much like Chicago - it's tough to beat a perfect summer day there. Obviously Los Angeles has infinitely better weather year round, but that makes it tough to really, fully appreciate those individual days that scatter themselves - more and more rarely, these days - throughout the summer in typically cold weather cities. I ran along the river in the morning and walked Back Bay during the afternoon trying to soak it all in.

There are few times better suited for happy music than such days, and everyone has stockpiles of songs that they associate with these moments of weather-related perfection. While I have hundreds, I have been listening to the following quite a bit recently. It's not going to win any awards for originality, but it's flat out nasty and guaranteed to put you in a good mood. Plus, it's getting me even more excited to see Phish here in Chicago next week (they cover it with some regularity).

The Rolling Stones - Loving Cup

And then a strange thing happened. On my flight back to Chicago, I had this odd nostalgia for fall. Somewhat amazingly, Chicago has a comparable autumn to New England (minus the intense foliage), about which I will absolutely take more time to write when the weather calls for it. I can't believe I could be looking forward to fall, considering it's been the coldest summer here in decades, but you can't help it sometime, right? Right.

The band Fruit Bats remind me of fall. Their music is folky, with earthy themes and mellow tunes. My favorite tune of theirs, "When U Love Somebody," has been featured in the theatrical trailer for the movie Adam coming out soon, so I'll offer something different here today, off their album Mouthfuls. Their new album, The Ruminant Band, just came out on Sub Pop. I'll check it out and post a review.

Fruit Bats - Union Blanket

United Airlines

Flying you across the country in 1983's most advanced "jetliners."

-- Posted From My iPodPhone

Salem, OR

Beautiful weather, beautiful scenery, beautiful scones.

-- Posted From My iPodPhone

6 Hour Energy

You can't do six minute abs. The seventh minute is key!

-- Posted From My iPodPhone

Yeasayer

One of my favorite tracks from early 2009's excellent Dark Was the Night 2-disc compilation, "Tightrope," is Yeasayer doing what they do best. Heavy Middle Eastern/African percussion and choppy yet harmonized vocals contribute to an Indie gem. I have no idea what the lyrics are getting at, or how they relate to the song title, but as long as those lyrics aren't flagrantly bad or banal (and they're not here), I'm cool with that.

Yeasayer - Tightrope

Criminally Underrated: Doves & Elbow

You'll see that I'm not generally going to be on the "cutting edge" of music releases. There are hundreds of blogs looking to make their name as the cool place to go for brand new music no one has heard yet. ("Hey, look! I got the latest (insert name of band you've never heard of) because I blog about music and the indies send me early releases! This band is going to be huge, but never forget that I heard of them first, which shouldn't be a problem because you have no idea who they are! But they sound like (other band you may have once read about and nearly forgotten) and are from (current indie hot spot), so check it! And they're playing at (tiny, but admittedly awesome music venue nearby) next week!" And then, 90% of the time, the song/band sucks. Ok, rant over).

I just don't have the time, interest, or - frankly - access to compete. Instead, I want to try to use this forum to post bands that have generally been around for a bit and have a following, but may have flown under the average music aficionados' radar. There's so much music that gets put out and overlooked or underappreciated, but has actually stood something of a test of time, so I'd rather write about that (while still reserving the right to eventually turn into the indie-hyping d-bag I referenced above...you've been warned). So I'll be posting songs from bands old and new, hoping that you find something you may have missed, get reintroduced to something that may have fallen by the wayside or just realize that I have fantastic taste in music. There, I said it.

Today I present 2 of my favorite British bands who have generated a good deal of critical acclaim and a decent following in the US, but have not broken through to be mega-popular over here.

The first is Doves, who I have a particular affinity for because their first album, "Lost Souls" was the soundtrack to my summer in 2002. I was OBSESSED with it: literally every tune on that album was incredible. They've flirted with major mainstream success, with songs appearing in commercials for the NFL Network and a few tunes on soundtracks (Blue Crush and 500 Days of Summer, among others), but still aren't as popular as I think they should be. They consistently put out melodic, catchy, guitar-driven Brit pop/rock that oozes with atmosphere and occasionally reveals their prior existence as a house/techno band. That's not to say that most of their current music is heavily influenced by that sound, but their production most certainly is. They have 4 albums, all of which come highly recommended, and for today, I give you the song from The Last Broadcast that appeared in 500 Days of Summer. It's catchy as shit.

Doves - There Goes the Fear

The next band is Elbow. They consistently receive great reviews with their personal lyrics, gorgeous arrangements and lead singer Guy Garvey's raspy voice. Seriously, check that thing out; it's awesome. Yet somehow, they have maintained an even lower profile in the US than Doves, despite all of the critical acclaim. I think this might be due to their albums' tendency to be a little darker and more emotional/introspective, but always containing a few upbeat & rhythm-driven songs. It makes for albums that don't quite fit one mood or another, making them a little more difficult to get through in one sitting despite the great songwriting. But that doesn't stop them from being a fantastic band, and actually one of the better live acts I've seen. That's truly amazing given the hushed and mellow nature of much of their work.

In keeping with the Doves catchiness, I give you a track off Elbow's third album, Leaders of the Free World. It's about the lead singer meeting his then girlfriend's ex-boyfriend. The lyrics are pretty awesome and it's got one of the best hand-clap intros you'll ever hear.

Elbow - Mexican Standoff

Dawes Again, Just for the Hell of It

Because this song - and the band - are awesome. Check the lyrics and vocals.

Dawes - When My Time Comes (from Daytrotter)

Delta Spirit

Saw these guys open for Dr. Dog at The Wiltern in Los Angeles about a year ago...one of the more impressive shows I saw last year, especially from a band from whom I had previously only heard one song. For some reason, I find it challenging to really get into a show if I have no prior knowledge of their music. But these guys, largely from San Diego, absolutely won me over. The lead singer, Matt Vasquez looks like he's trying to be James Dean on stage, but his guitar chops and vocals force you to take him seriously despite the throw-back look.

Somewhere between roots rock, country rock and indie rock lay Delta Spirit. This was the first track of theirs that I heard, and it led to my purchasing their fantastic album, "Ode to Sunshine." I recommend you do the same...

Delta Spirit - Trashcan

Compost

Good work Yankee Stadium.

Not even my hippie local bakery has a composting bin.

-- Posted From My iPodPhone

New Yankee Stadium

Really nice, but sort of impersonal.

-- Posted From My iPodPhone

(500) Days of Summer & the Birth of a Film Genre

Well, birth might be a strong term, but I'm officially "naming" a genre of films that, to this point, has seemingly been un-categorized. A movie genre bris/baptism, if you will.

My girlfriend and I went to see "(500) Days of Summer" last weekend.

We both thoroughly enjoyed it for a mixture of reasons. Good acting, awesome music, clever time-bending narrative, a bashing of the greeting-card industry, Zooey Deschanel's eyes, a friendly take on the unfriendly downtown LA, Zooey Deschanel's name, etc.

We exited the theatre, rehashing our favorite parts of the film. She mentioned that she really appreciated that the film was told, pretty honestly, from the male point of view; something atypical of a romance/date movie. Thinking about it, I replied, "yeah, sort of like Almost Famous." When she gave me a blank stare, I explained:

The movie shows how guys are typically uncomfortable expressing emotions, except in big swings or when it's too late. We typically listen to music that will exactly complement (ie exacerbate) whatever mood we are in. We are most attracted to females that we can have or can't figure out, but who show a slight interest in us and some common interests. We talk to our guy friends about all the goings on in our personal lives, just in a less emotionally open and honest way (ie, we joke...a lot). When the time comes for us to do the hard things/make the hard decisions, we can...just sometimes with it takes some prodding. At the end, we may or may not get the girl, but we generally come away feeling like we'll be ok. When we're really lucky, there's another one out there.

I jokingly said that there should be a specific genre/name for these type of movies. With the Apatow crew having mastered the "Bromance," I came up with "RoMENce movies."

Must have a male main character who is likable, but fully capable of being an ass. Not an asshole. There is a distinction. An ass could worry that his new girlfriend isn't as interested in him as he is in her and maybe say some stupid things. An asshole would sleep with her best friend.

Movie must be about/contain/have a soundtrack with ridiculously awesome music. It can be from that era, a previous era or a mix. The music should not only be of high quality, but it must be finely tuned to the tone of the scenes in which they appear and the overall movie. This is much harder than you think. It's really easy to be too obvious here.

There can't be too much deus ex machina unless it fits into the story line. This also means that boy doesn't always get girl. Guys can't relate to a romantic movie that always has a perfectly happy ending. The ending can be happy, just not too happy.

Generally, the female love interest should be attractive, but not too attractive. I know this is splitting hairs considering we are talking about Hollywood actresses, but hear me out. While guys may sit around talking about which actress/supermodel/athlete is so incredibly attractive, dating that kind of person is sort of like dating an alien (unless you are also an alien/Brad Pitt). Normal guys are looking for a female they are attracted to that is also "attainable." If we are going to sit in a movie theater and relate to a relationship on screen, it can't be between Martin Starr and Bar Refaeli because the writers thought it would be clever to have them meet on J-Date.

The movie must make you think. And it can't just be, "This movie is so right, all guys are insensitive pricks who only want to get laid," or "why doesn't he see who she really is behind those glasses," or "if guys were only more like women wanted them to be, they wouldn't screw up all the time." This is true for both males and females in the audience.

Other Notable "RoMENce" movies:

Almost Famous - As mentioned, this might be the movie that defined the genre (if it's a modern phenomenon. William Miller (aka Cameron Crowe on film), aptly played by Patrick Fugit, loves music, loves a girl, loves a band whose lead guitar player is also in love with the girl. He's conflicted and confused by his love for these things and his desire to write about them honestly. He's voice of sanity is an insane music writer (my favorite Philip Seymour Hoffman performance). He goes on the road, exploring all of these relationships, with his story (and his actual experiences) narrated by a rich mix of music of the era: Elton John, The Beach Boys, The Who, Simon and Garfunkel, Led Zeppelin and Rod Stewart. The music mixes well together in the film and the film doesn't work without the mix of music. Every male who sees the movie can empathize with William's heartache, earnestness and desire to score Goldie Hawn's daughter. Credit to Frances McDormand for playing every Jewish mother ever without actually playing a Jewish lady.

High Fidelity - This one is sort of a cheat, because it was based on the terrific book by Nick Hornby. The book, set in England, hits all the notes perfectly: music to match emotional moods (doesn't every guy sulk with sulky, emotional British pop?), never feeling quite satisfied that everyone in a relationship is just as perfect as it could/should/might be, never feeling like you have any control of the relationship and, most common, overthinking all of the possible things that your girlfriend/wife/significant other might be thinking/doing/enjoying after you have a fight? I think Cusack (who originally optioned the book rights) and Director Stephen Frears did a really job staying true to the "RoMENce" aspect of the book while translating it for American audiences. They left certain music the same and made some appropriate changes to help make it more relatable to American audiences. The story is told entirely from the point of view of Rob Gordon (Cusack), a record store owner who is just trying not to get in the way of his own happiness. He's honest about things that are his fault, both before and after the fact (we often know when we are being idiots...well, sometimes). Watching this, I cringe at the awkward scenes/interactions, not just because they are awkward, but because I can specifically remember doing similarly awkward things. Special props to Tim Robbins for his role as "Ray" the upstairs neighbor and potential love interest for Rob's ex/current/on-again/off-again girlfriend.

What are your thoughts? Other movies that fit into my new genre? I totally forgot "Garden State!" I feel like you could make the argument for some classics (Casablanca?). Also, I would argue that John Cusack went from the star of the "RoMENce" era (Classic Cusack Trio: "The Sure Thing," "Better Off Dead," and "One Crazy Summer") to a regular RomCom whipping boy (Not-Classic Cusack Trio: "America's Sweethears," "Serendipity" and "Must Love Dogs") overnight. Who might take his place?

What Does Chicago Say & Some Chicago Music

I've had a number of conversations in the past year about my new home - the city of Chicago - and the Midwest in general. Having already lived in Boston & Los Angeles, and spent a good deal of time abroad, I feel like I have experienced more cities than the average person and therefore feel qualified to discuss city living.

When I arrived in Chicago last August, I loved it. It's big and clean; you can find great houses and apartments at reasonable cost; it's relatively inexpensive & very "live-able;" people are friendly and generally peaceful (unlike, say, many Bostonians); there is unbelievable live music and great food; and it's full of solid bars with people drink like there's no tomorrow (this, I would contend, is a good thing when combined with the general peacefulness). Aside from the absolutely mind/body/soul-crushing weather for like 8 months of the year, it has everything you could ever want in a city. It's even easier to get to most places around the country from here than any other major city. A lot to like.

But Chicago lacks a certain "something" that neither I nor the few people with whom I had spoken about this could put our fingers on. Was it a Midwestern lack of "worldliness?" Maybe. The missing intellectualism of a Berkeley or Cambridge? Possibly, but it's hard to argue that with the University of Chicago and Northwestern around. Is it a sarcastic edge that adds character (to put it charitably) to people from the Northeast? Likely, but that can't be the whole story.

In my many searches through the vast expanse of crap - and I mean the good & the bad - on the internet, I came across the website of Paul Graham, a Computer Science professor, essayist and artist who is one of the partners at Y Combinator. His essay called "Cities & Ambition" suggests that cities "say" something about themselves and their inhabitants. A highly recommended read...as are a number of his essays.

For instance, he says that Cambridge says "you should be smarter." NYC says "you should be more successful/wealthy." The Bay Area says "you should live better." Silicon Valley says "you should be more powerful."

Whether or not you agree with exactly what Graham suggests for each city, he's on to something interesting here. I have been trying the past few days to think about what Chicago says. I have no definitive answers, but I think something along the lines of "you should live contentedly" might get at it. There's a simplicity implied in being content that is very much present here. That's not meant as any kind of slight: as anyone who knows me knows, I'm all about maximizing my personal happiness. But that covers the music, food, heavy drinking and friendliness with just a touch of "high culture" that really define the city.

So I'm curious, fair reader, as to what you think Chicago - or any other city - has to say.

And just for suffering though my lengthy diatribe, I'll throw you a semi-related bone: music from a favorite Chicago musician. Devin Davis's album "Lonely People of the World, Unite!" came out about 4 years ago and remains in steady rotation on my iPod. It's all completely self-produced and recorded (minus one or two instruments on a few songs) and it is, frankly, a masterpiece of simple, heartfelt, straightforward pop/rock. His influences are quite apparent throughout the album (name checking off the major classic rock bands & artists is easy to do as you listen), and I will likely go into much greater detail on him and the album at some other point, but for now, enjoy a sampling...

Devin Davis - Turtle & the Flightless Bird

Harry's At It Again

Could Reid’s timing be any worse?  Even if he knows he can’t get a vote until after the August recess, did he have to step on Obama’s toes by announcing this in the immediate aftermath of last night’s press conference when BHO took such a forceful position on the timing issue?  Geez, wait until the Friday afternoon news dump and don’t embarrass your own President.

MMJ & Eddie Vedder Cover The Band

Since I'm going to be either referencing or virtually fellating The Band throughout many of my posts, I figured it would probably be a good idea to introduce you to some of their music. I'll try not to get overly obsessive about them in particular (but they're just SO damn good), and I will never post "The Weight" - other than to maybe discuss its relevance as one of the greatest songs ever written and performed - and wherever possible I'll post some other bands covering their stuff. Just to mix it up. No one likes a one-trick blogger/fanboy.

Killing two birds with one stone, I'm posting My Morning Jacket - my favorite band of the past 6-7 years - covering one of my favorite Band songs, "It Makes No Difference," with Eddie Vedder on guest vocals.

MMJ & Eddie Vedder - It Makes No Difference (live)

The song is completely soul-crushing, but absolutely beautiful, and a fantastic companion for post-breakup self-loathing (err, so I'm told). This recording, which hopefully comes across alright via the interwebs, also demonstrates one of the reasons why MMJ is so awesome: not only is its original music epic and its live show incredible, but they also cover a bunch of songs from some of my favorite bands (a live version of Jim James and company covering The Rolling Stones' "Loving Cup" will absolutely make an appearance sometime soon). For those interested, this song and a whole boatload of The Band covers can be found on the CD, "Endless Highway: The Music of The Band."

Its a boy!

Jobus has her first. Also, hospitals are exceptionally boring places. The waiting room here is 10x10, maybe. The TV has been ripped out of the wall. I tried reading, but with everyone talking, its so hard to concentrate. I'm glad that we won't be here all night long. Way to hustle up, Little Buddy.

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Celts

Lucky enough to get hand-me down seats 3 rows back.

LeBron is a freak...different cast, same story for the Cavs.

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Debate Finis?

Josh Marshall nailed it: Russert epitomizes "militant simpletonism". Was he hoping for a George W. "Musharraf moment" when he asked Hillary if she knew the name of Putin's successor? (Of course, to continue the silly SNL line of attack – why didn't Russert ask Obama this question, since he is the one whose foreign policy credentials are more open to question?)

I missed the middle half hour of the debate (had to have my nightly "In Treatment" fix), so (based on press reports today that the debate was fairly even) my view may be skewed, but while I was watching, I though Hillary rocked (except for the lame SNL joke – she just does not do well with scripted humor). Two images/moments remain fresh:

1. Obama looking like a little school boy, raising his hand to be heard.

2. When Obama answered Russert initially on the Farrakhan question (which, given all the internet chatter, was I think fair game until Tim went way overboard on follow up), I thought Obama's answer was a bit too careful in its wording but I was prepared to accept it because I don't accept the whole guilt by association charge in this particular instance. I was also thinking that even though this was not a question that called for a response from Hillary, it would be a perfect opportunity for her to score some grace points by stating she knows Barack Obama and the type of person he is and she knows something about innuendo and these internet reports are ridiculous. Instead, she chimed in with a personal incident about her first Senate campaign which managed to draw attention to how he had danced around his answer, and while he tried to make a joke about whether there is a difference between "denounce" and "reject" – and maybe he was right on the merits – I think he looked bad in the moment. Whether Hillary would have been better served by personal grace than hardball remains to be seen.

I had been thinking that if Hillary lost either Texas or Ohio, she was done. Now I'm thinking that if she wins Ohio convincingly (which last night may help her do), loses Texas narrowly and picks up either Vermont or Rhode Island, she will live to get to Pennsylvania. Can't wait for March 4.

Crawford

So, my friend David Modigliani has made a terrific documentary about the residents of a small town in Texas by the name of Crawford. Crawford, TX is not the town that many people assumed (ie, it's not just the bike-riding, brush-clearing, summit-hosting vacation home of our soon-to-be-former President).

Crawford has been accepted into the South by Southwest Film Festival (SxSW) and it needs a little help. Because the film features footage from television newsreels, they must raise some money to keep this original (and essential) footage in the film. In truth, I feel like my introduction is sort of a ramble, when I am posting with a real purpose. I will leave the details to Modig:

It's been great news for CRAWFORD -- first we got into SxSW, then we were given 3 screenings, all at the Paramount -- the 1300-seat Theater downtown.

Check out the trailer:


Exciting stuff. Been working 18 hrs. a day to knock out the final cut -- bringing the project from standard def. back into HD (which we shot it in) for the big screen, mixing audio at a professional studio for the 5-1 speakers in theaters, and - this has been the hardest - licensing about 7 minutes of archival news footage at $80/sec. The networks nail you on that.

I'm really proud of the movie and this is the final push -- we give SxSW the master on March 1. We need to raise $50K and we've raised $38K. Getting close. A contribution (tax-deductible) would be a huge boost. You can contribute online -- here or you can write a check to Refraction Arts with "Crawford" on the memo line and send it to me at:

Crawford Movie
1312 Willow St.
Austin, TX 78702

It looks like we'll have a chance to screen the film in NYC this summer.

So please give if you can. It's really important to support independent filmmakers, particularly a filmmaker like David who has really captured an amazing story. Give if you can!

Russert-Russia

Pumpkinhead accidentally makes good?  The question about Dmitri Medvevev in Russia was asked in a stupid gotcha manner (christ, he even went into detail afterwards and followed up with a stupid hypothetical), but it brought up an important point. We've been so focused on Iraq and "The Forgotten War" in Afghanistan that our government (President and all Presidential nominees (D and R)) has completely forgotten about the former Iron Curtain.

Both candidates on stage disappointed me with a lack of up-to-date knowledge of the situation (good try HRC, but it wasn't that you couldn't pronounce his name). How could neither mention HOW Putin plans to stay in power or all of the gas line shenanigans?  Meddling in Iran?  Nothing compared to the meddling in Ukraine, where they have actual candidates for office. Come on kids, you're better than that!

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Debate

What is the point of having Tim Russert co-host these debates? Is he some kind of pumpkin-headed robot, programmed to pull random quotes from 30 years ago and ask yes-or-no "gotcha" questions? And what's with the constantly interrupting the candidates?

Last Debate

I've heard some speculate this could be the last debate of the primary cycle. I guess this assumes the potential Obama victory in TX will close the door on HRC. I'm not sure this is the case. I know I've said it previously, but I'm starting to think Mark Penn's "States that Don't Count" strategy is winning inside the Clinton campaign. If this were the case, feel pretty strongly that my earlier opinion of HRC will be my final opinion of her: I like the person and Senator a lot, but the campaigner has surrounded herself with the worst of strategists. Too bad, too. While I agree with Josh Marshall that we evaluate all of these outcomes with the benefit of hindsight, I've been saying from the first moment I heard/saw Mark Penn that I believed him to be a horrendous person/advisor and that I liked HRC despite her continuing to rely on his advice.

In fact, I was undecided until right before Super Duper Tuesday, when I was forced to make a decision and cast a vote. And while grummish accuses me of being a Hillary hater, "just like every other Obama lover," I really do believe Clinton would have made a fine President.  Unfortunately, on the road there, she was convinced to run a campaign as the inevitable front-runner, then seemed unprepared for a long contest. Some say that a campaign is a reflection of managerial experience; ie since Obama ran a tight, efficient, targeted campaign, he has a related potential as a chief executive. I don't necessarily buy this logic. I do, however, believe the inverse to hold (at least a little) true. If you surround yourself with inept advisors who continually shoot you, and themselves, in the foot and you stick with them because of personally loyalty, that bodes ill well for the type of executive you'll be.

Every CEO has to cut the fat to save the business at some point. Mark Penn and Howard Wolfson (who I blame in some way for toning down Ned Lamont's aggressive insurgent campaign in CT) should have gone a long time ago.

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Updated: Females Can Be Are Funny

Well, after posting the Sarah Silverman - Matt Damon clip a while back, I was wondering how long it would take before Jimmy Kimmel put up something similar. Worth the wait I think:

Original Post:

I would normally never post anything during work hours, but this made me laugh out loud...a lot:


Much respect to Matt Damon for not taking himself too seriously.

Oscars

I don't know if it was because the writers' stike didn't allow enough time to come up with funny stuff or not, but I found tonight's Academy Awards to be pretty boring. I enjoyed when Jon Stewart brought Marketa Ingvar out to let her say thank you, but it seemed pretty un-memorable otherwise. Too bad, pefect night for some major upsets or surprises. Where's the streaker or the freaking out actor (paging Cuba Gooding Jr.) to liven things up a bit?  I did think Stewart did a good job, though.

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SNL

I have to say that as bad as SNL has been over the last few years, I've always found their political coverage has stayed pretty sharp. Now back from the writers' strike, they had a couple of segments on the current state of the Presidential race. I think it was pretty sharp all around:

Credit to Fred Armisen for his Barack Obama. I think it's actually pretty sharp.

Parish Cafe

27 down, 48 to go.

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Clear

Still not sure exactly what I'm doing here or why...

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More Shoveling

Strangers just told me to come back in the morning. I could have sworn my condo association pays someone to do this at the first sign of snow.

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3am Shovel

I love Boston.

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Snowed In

The shitshow in Boston:

Its been coming down for a while now and is seemingly getting worse. Final predictions from the weathermen range from 6" to 10". As is almost always the case here in Boston, the snow was dirty/slushy from the moment it hit the ground. My money is on 5" of actual accumulation.

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Plagiarism

I think this whole thing has been stupid. Obama is not plagiarizing anyone. I know some have argued that it's more a question of authenticity, but the press continues to play it like a real campaign issue for him. I think this pretty much sums up why it's a dumb meme and why it will go away:

I mentioned at the end of my debate blog that the pivot of Hillary's powerful concluding remarks came from Bill Clinton's 92 campaign. Clinton had various permutations to it back then. But TPM Reader CG found one example in this November 1992 article by Anna Quindlen ...

Clinton, 92: "The hits that I took in this election are nothing compared to the hits the people of this state and this country have been taking for a long time."

Hillary Clinton, tonight: "You know, the hits I’ve taken in life are nothing compared to what goes on every single day in the lives of people across our country."

Just to be 100% clear, there's nothing in the least wrong with this. And it's a great line. But I think it shows the silliness of the 'plagiarism' charges based on a few borrowed lines. Politicians borrow good lines and catch-phrases. Happens all the time. There's nothing wrong with it.

Morning Commute: Snow Storms

That's the word for Boston today. I woke up to "flurries" with "showers" kicking in this afternoon. I don't really understand the term "snow showers."  If someone were to take a snow shower, wouldn't it take him/her forever to get his/her hair wet?  Also, I generally like hot showers and I've never been in hot snow before.

Anyway, "showers" are due to "pick up" and turn into "storms" with possible "white out" conditions this evening. And there is always potential for a "Nor'easter."  I used to really wonder about that term, but I just read "1776" by David McCullogh and apparently "Northeaster" was a term used by colonials to describe certain storms. In modern times, we're just too lazy for the "th."

I guess this is better than saying its snowing "a little," "medium," "heavy," or "really heavy."  But I do sometimes think the weatherman thinks he is/wants to be the anchorman.

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Haircut

The Heat Miser is dead:

Long live the awkward Jewish teenager:

Precipitous Withdrawal

The calls for HRC to "gracefully" exit the Democratic primary started shortly after Obama's stunningly large wins in the Potomac region. They have become even more pronounced since his decisive win in Wisconsin, particularly as he has gained ground in Ohio and Texas.  While I think it would be peachy if Clinton exited the race at this point, I don't think she has any obligation to do it. In fact, while the mo' favors Obama, if Clinton were able to sweep the final three large contests, she'd have as much a claim to the nomination as Obama. So why quit now?

In truth, I do think it would be better for HRC to quit now.  Not because it's already lost or for the good of the party (which, again, I think are true). I think HRC should drop out for the good of HRC. The long campaign has taken its toll on HRC's credibility as a practical, experienced manager. Her campaign is in serious financial trouble. She's had trouble controlling surrogates from the get-go (Bob Johnson, Bob Kerrey, Billy Shaheen to name three). She was on the brink of firing her chief strategist before New Hampshire. She just fired her campaign manager and replaced her with someone even closer to her inner circle. A number of members of her team have been out there essentially saying certain states don't count (caucus states, states with large black populations, states D's can't win in the fall to name three). Now, she's got wealthy donors putting together a 527 in Ohio to launch a campaign subtly going after Obama. Certainly nothing here helps her image with Americans who view her as willing to do anything (even dirty) to win the nomination.

She started this campaign as an immensely popular Senator from New York. At a certain point, nearly every ad she airs, every attack she makes on Obama, etx will be perceived as a negative (even if she is trying to accentuate her own skillset).  With no intention of exiting public life, I think she needs to manage her image carefully.  She could/should still be a star in the party going forward, including a potential Senatorial leadership post. The last thing she needs is a hit to popularity or being labeled as someone who put the party in peril for the sake of her own personal ambition. 

We're not nearly at this point yet.  Should she not sweep TX and OH, then I think she would step aside. But I'm not betting on it.

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Morning Commute: Sleepwalking

I feel like I've slept 35 total hours in the last week. Between travel, sleeping on floors, early morning breakfasts and meetings, late night drinks (and Cantor's!) I just feel a little bit like I'm sleep walking. I never used to be this way. I used to function on four or five hours of sleep a night month problem. Somewhere along the way, I think when I was in NYC, my system established an 8 hour minimum.

On the train back to Boston, the guy across the table (I took Amtrak B-Class) from more looked at me as I was dozing in and out of consciousness and said one word: "age.". This seems counterintuitive to me. I always figured you need less sleep between the ages of say 18 and 50. Little people need the sleep because they are growing. Older people need the sleep because their systems run slower. To use a car analogy: kids are the Tesla's, 18-50 year olds are regular cars (some Fords/GMs and some BMWs/Jaguars) and older people are Mercedes Benz's with Diesel engines (not sure if that last part of the analogy works...at all).

I don't know. I just thought that at my current age, health, regimen I would be able to function well with ~5 hours a night. Not the case. Man, I need coffee.

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Temporary Work Station

My regular computer hard drive fried itself right before I was heading out for a one day conference and I needed something on which to type up notes.

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Letter to the Economist

Sir,

In your leader this week on Barack Obama's ability to produce detailed strategies and policies and deliver, you espouse the same meme circulating in the media (and from the opposing candidate's camps) that Obama is all fluff and little experience and substance. to quote you, Obama's Iraq plan consists of "little more than pulling out quickly, convening a peace conference, inviting the Iranians and the Syrians along and hoping for the best." I'm sorry, where has Obama said anything remotely that simplistic?  I must have missed the part where he said he was crossing his fingers as I was busy reading detailed policies readily available on his website.

After reading your glowing excitement ("Half -way There," February 19th) over McCain's resurgence and "reputation for straight talk (mostly, if not entirely deserved," I should have come to expect this type of lazy, conventional wisdom type of reporting. After all, McCain's "huge experience of international affairs" was the source of his detailed solution for Iraq: "I'd sit the Sunnis, Shia and Kurds down and say, guys, cut the bullshit already."

Wow, McCain's huge cache of experience has really led to a much more detailed plan than Obama's.

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Big Deal or No Deal?

I have to say that I was largely unimpressed with the Obama plagiarism contretemps. It seemed like pretty small potatoes and another example of Clinton low-blowing. It’s not negative campaigning if you’re telling facts, but the approach is still distasteful. I continue to rationalize these nicks and jabs on the theory that whatever the Republicans will throw at Obama will be far worse, so it is better for him to become battle toughened now. And if he shows he has a thin skin or isn’t a strong enough fighter, maybe Hillary will wind up with the nomination. Then, I saw this analysis: Huff Po and I understood that Obama did not just share ideas with Deval Patrick, he took virtually his exact speech. Watch Patrick:

and Obama:


That lyrical retort you have seen all weekend about words counting was hardly original. Apparently, neither is the “Yes We Can” theme. Of course, this is not a Joe Biden situation. It’s not “plagiarism” if (as is apparently the case here) you use someone else’s words with their permission. But without attributing the language to the source, you do cast some shadow on your authenticity.

Morning Commute: Bathroom Heat

Let me congratulate the inventor of bathroom heat, it really was a stroke of genius. The bathroom light and bathroom vent (or bathroom light/vent combo) seem obvious to me, but I guess should also be recognized. After all, everyone hates foggy mirrors, peeling paint and brushing their teeth in the dark.

I guess, for me, shower heat just takes everything to another level of comfort, a feeling you definitely want in the lav. When I first bought my place, the master bath had a heat/vent/light combo that was original to the unit (probably 18 years old) and the heat and ventilation barely worked. I took showers in the morning only to be greeted by something out of Stephen King's "The Mist" when finished. With that much steam floating around, my towel was wet before I even used it. Additionally, I would freeze my ass off. As a result, I would go to work tired, cranky and jew fro'd (from the excess humidity of the steam).

After a four (should have been hour) day project, the new system was in. The fan and light did their jobs, but the heat was revolutionary. The system has the kind of heat that runs current through a coil and uses a fan to push the hot air into the bathroom. Unlike a heat lamp, where you have to get directly underneath, this thing heats the whole bathroom. Now, after a shower, I go to work tired, cranky and "Heat Misered.".

The bathroom heat is so good, I even use it while brushing my teeth and washing my hands. Now, if I could only figure out how to lower my electricity bill. Maybe I don't need to run heat in the rest of the apartment.

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Shutters Sunset

Enjoying an Irish coffee.

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American Pie Explained

For anyone who didn't already know what the song/lyrics were all about:

h/t John Cole

Malibu

What was a great day for a hike turned foggy. Views were still pretty awesome.

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