Oops.
Soapbox ascended in 5, 4, 3, ...
I suppose I owe Michael Moore some thanks for making me so suspicious of politically motivated documentaries that more or less confirm my own prejudices that I never saw Gore's movie. Something about peoples' reactions to "An Inconvenient Truth" always put me off. They'd tell me about maps and pictures and graphs, but nobody seemed to be...
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Soapbox ascended in 5, 4, 3, ...
I suppose I owe Michael Moore some thanks for making me so suspicious of politically motivated documentaries that more or less confirm my own prejudices that I never saw Gore's movie. Something about peoples' reactions to "An Inconvenient Truth" always put me off. They'd tell me about maps and pictures and graphs, but nobody seemed to be...
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I guess this is where technology pulls out ahead and starts to lay down distance between me and it.
While its tail lights are still close and bright enough to read by, there's Library Thing.
While its tail lights are still close and bright enough to read by, there's Library Thing.
VIEW 7 of 7 COMMENTS
maike:
<laughing (with whatever punctuation mark we might designate as implying simple curiousity)> Next time, at a quiet bar.
flux:
Reading that book aloud when you already stutter a bit is Hard.
Saw The Police last night.
I hadn't given much thought to how tunes would be reworked but reading the reviews this morning I was retroactively grateful that taste prevailed over ego and rearrangements of the big hits that had been performed in other cities had been rolled back in favour of faithful renderings. So good on them for wanting to try something new, and a...
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I hadn't given much thought to how tunes would be reworked but reading the reviews this morning I was retroactively grateful that taste prevailed over ego and rearrangements of the big hits that had been performed in other cities had been rolled back in favour of faithful renderings. So good on them for wanting to try something new, and a...
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mobprod:
Great review man. Never did have a ken for The Police, myself. Few things better than a good live music experience though.
charley:
Thanks bird. Did I congratulate you on your engagement? I thought I did but maybe it was the lady. Very exciting news.
Is it wrong that I put the most attractive covers at the front. I love books but why do they have to take up so much space? I haven't even started yet.
Is it wrong that I put the most attractive covers at the front. I love books but why do they have to take up so much space? I haven't even started yet.
My goodness we go back a ways, don't we?
Dear Harry Potter,
How about a little magic on the postal service? I'm home alone waiting for Ginny's copy of your ridiculously priced book and haven't set foot outside of the apartment all day, nor have I been able to turn on music or a movie because the doorbell has decided to take the weekend off (some magic there would be enough to restore...
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How about a little magic on the postal service? I'm home alone waiting for Ginny's copy of your ridiculously priced book and haven't set foot outside of the apartment all day, nor have I been able to turn on music or a movie because the doorbell has decided to take the weekend off (some magic there would be enough to restore...
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In good company, I saw Bill Frisell's late set last night.
A ripping take on Dylan's "Masters of War" (Ginny:"he's totally rockin' out!") led into a pretty rendering of Bacharach's "What the World Needs Now". That was neat. So was the rest of it.
A ripping take on Dylan's "Masters of War" (Ginny:"he's totally rockin' out!") led into a pretty rendering of Bacharach's "What the World Needs Now". That was neat. So was the rest of it.
VIEW 8 of 8 COMMENTS
superflea:
I preordered because of (and, in a matter of speaking, from) you this morning.
I'm not worried about not being able to find it on launch day.
I'm worried about the probability of avoiding spoilers nosediving with each passing hour upon its release. I am told that your fine establishment will deliver two copies to the girl's house on Saturday, and she and I are on media blackout from Fridayish until we both finish.
I'm not worried about not being able to find it on launch day.
I'm worried about the probability of avoiding spoilers nosediving with each passing hour upon its release. I am told that your fine establishment will deliver two copies to the girl's house on Saturday, and she and I are on media blackout from Fridayish until we both finish.
superflea:
I was a little surprised that so close to the launch I can still pay effectively half the cover price.
Although with the economics of it all, I wonder if I wouldn't have done you (the large corporate You, that is, not you you) the bigger service by just buying it from Amazon, because I did just buy the two copies of the book, and not "the books plus the five other books I'd been thinking of ordering but never got around to".
Retail is a confusing mistress.
Incidentally, I would really, really, really, really, really like it if you and I hung out sometime soon, so invent a reason.
Although with the economics of it all, I wonder if I wouldn't have done you (the large corporate You, that is, not you you) the bigger service by just buying it from Amazon, because I did just buy the two copies of the book, and not "the books plus the five other books I'd been thinking of ordering but never got around to".
Retail is a confusing mistress.
Incidentally, I would really, really, really, really, really like it if you and I hung out sometime soon, so invent a reason.
I haven't seen the new Transformers movie, even though I think I'd probably enjoy it. Why? Same reason I never got to use my free pass to see Grindhouse. To fucking long. Not a trend I'm especially happy with.
All the blockbusters in the past 6 years have been 2 1/2 hours long. Arrive in time to get your seat while the lights are on...
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All the blockbusters in the past 6 years have been 2 1/2 hours long. Arrive in time to get your seat while the lights are on...
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VIEW 7 of 7 COMMENTS
argene:
I remember sitting through the Hulk.
Oh dear God
Oh dear God
maike:
Father, you've given one of my favorite sermons. But I do recognize that the atheists, who are expert at controlling artistic products based on a commercialization quotient, hold control of a majority of the supply chain because they are in some equilibrium with the consumers. Here's my positive spin: If the atheists and the E-C-G... industry segment didn't exist, then Issacson's work would more likely be $139 with limited accessibility. So, do I support and cheer the godless? Hurrah!
Without really intending to I've been on an Oprah Book Club kick. Last week was Middlesex (generic quirky multigenerational saga; not especially inventive in style or its handling of "true historical" bits) and this week it's The Road (like the scary bits of What is the What except there aren't any other bits--the most affecting thing I've read in a long time). Sometime next week...
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VIEW 3 of 3 COMMENTS
flux:
Yeah, The Road was given me by Acid Gramps. It is really affecting.
I am sort of slowly getting behind the Oprah thing.
I am sort of slowly getting behind the Oprah thing.
hedgomatic:
The ticket to where is the question.
Did I mention yet that I'll be a married man before the year is through?
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superflea:
Going to see a friend's band at Sneaky Dee's on Wednesday.
You should spin out if you're not busy. 10ish, if that's not too late for a school night.
You should spin out if you're not busy. 10ish, if that's not too late for a school night.
lucy:
Congrats!
Pour one out for the end of a legend. No other record store I can think of was as mercilessly stimulating as Sam's. No other place had permanent wall space (and hand-made signs) devoted to Neil Young, Bowie, Rush, Miles, and on and on. No other place cared so obviously and so damn much about good music.
Every time I went to Sam's I'd spend...
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Every time I went to Sam's I'd spend...
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VIEW 3 of 3 COMMENTS
hedgomatic:
I think you are actually the first person to correctly identify the animal.
It's like the hat throws it off for most people, I dunno.
It's like the hat throws it off for most people, I dunno.
mk700c:
I know, but unfortunately, most people don't. Rather than have to answer six questions about, "wait, aren't you 27," I figured I'd answer one (or maybe two if Fluxor reads that entry) about why I don't know that age represents completed years.
Am I succumbing to the dumbing-down of society? Only when it's to avoid annoyance; I still staunchly oppose the acceptance of the s' for singular nouns that end in s. Assholes.
Am I succumbing to the dumbing-down of society? Only when it's to avoid annoyance; I still staunchly oppose the acceptance of the s' for singular nouns that end in s. Assholes.
The new Ian McEwan is quite good. The English Patient was not. Michael Ondaatje seems not to let his sense of humour get involved in his novels, and I think that's unfortunate. It worked alright in Anil's Ghost, but it's a touchy business this gossamer prose light as swan farts.
What next? Either Ian Rankin (the new one or Fleshmarket Close) or Vendela...
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What next? Either Ian Rankin (the new one or Fleshmarket Close) or Vendela...
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obd:
I've still got quite the pile on my nightstand. That may make the list though. What are the McCarthy novels?
Read Remainder by Tom McCarthy after being unexpectedly hooked by the first page. It was alright but a bit rigid in its form. Entertaining enough.
Now reading Falling Man by Don DeLillo. A third of the way and finding it classic DeLillo in every sense. If on September 11, 2001 you felt like you were living in a Don DeLillo novel, you will not be...
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Now reading Falling Man by Don DeLillo. A third of the way and finding it classic DeLillo in every sense. If on September 11, 2001 you felt like you were living in a Don DeLillo novel, you will not be...
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dholokov:
When I read the first sentence I read the word 'read' as an imperitive instead of imperfect past tense (?) , and I was like "NOBODY TELLS DHOLOKOV WHAT TO READ!" But now I am just glad you are enjoying it.
Phew - that might have been embarassing.
Phew - that might have been embarassing.
zaksmith:
house of meetings is really good. like, better than the martin amis standard, which i think is pretty high.