lost highway

I think he knows better than to place his trust in McConnell. He's pretty wily (although many will say the stop gap spending bill was another example of the democrat wuss-out). Chuck plays to appearances, he knows the game. There are oh so many ways your prediction will come true. Things are just bizarre enough in politics right now- we might both be pleasantly surprised by how wrong you are, but it sure feels like a snowball in hell right now.

My daughter and I dropped off my wife and her friend in downtown Denver. Last year both of the girls in my family marched, but alas our little Edie is a toddler and hasn't the patience to be worn like a backpack. It sounds like it was a pretty big display with some positive vibes, solidarity and everything you'd want out of such a political occasion. Favorite sign she spotted: "Tweet people how you want to be tweeted".

Feist has done a nice version too. Great song, love all the mentioned versions, but never heard the Lucius one.

Again, I feel prompted to say: It's not just that I think his agenda is odious. For those that share his agenda, he keeps doing stupid shit that makes what he's trying to do harder for him (which I think is Bannon's problem with him). So we hate him for what he wants, but shouldn't the other side hate him for being horribly inept at accomplishing what he wants? To be more specific, if you wanted to prevail in a difficult immigration discussion, wouldn't saying horrible shit that motivates your opposition and embarrasses your peers be the worst possible choice?

Yeah, the letter beautifully backs peoples' assertions earlier that any agreements Bannon signed have no relevance over Wolff's work, or as I remember the letter put it, "The law treats Mr. Bannon as an adult... and it is his responsibility to honor any contractual obligations." Funnest lawyer letter ever.

I'm reading "Your Band Sucks, What I Saw in Indie Rocks Failed Revolution But Can No Longer Here". I haven't gotten to 'the problem with music' section of the book. So far it's teenage reminiscences about playing in the underground during the author's college years in the 80's.

Dark, the new(ish) series on Netflix. It's like if Stranger Things is an amazing graphic novel, Dark is an amazing novel. Science fiction all grown up with pacing, subtlety, layered characters, the whole nine yards. One disclaimer, it's a German show and apparently Netflix decided we're all idiots so it defaults to the dubbed version. You have to go into languages to switch it back to the original German and get some English subtitles, unless of course you are bilingual in a way that I am not.

So Clinton is still under investigation by the FBI. Man, I can't wait for the 2016 election to be irrelevant. The more we learn the longer that seems like it's going to take.

^ I have to wonder if this is a further splintering of the far right. Does Bannon have the pull to take people with him? Or is this merely a regrouping away from him? Are Trump and McConnell going to become best friends?

Interesting. Thanks. This bodes well for Wolff and his book.

^ Good point. The name of the game in any book like this is research, and good research is their strongest legal defense. According to wikipedia (can everyone tell I'm sitting at the shop waiting to get my brakes done?) for it to be libel it has to be false, harmful, and without adequate research. Takes all three to prove defamation against a public official. Perhaps the more important question is if the alleged Non Disclosure would only affect Bannon for what he shared, or also the writer with whom he shared it. Don't think I'll get that one off wikipedia.

Well he can threaten to sue for defamation if the book is published, which might scare the publishers and therein prevent publication. The author says he has recorded interviews, so they might feel like they could beat down a defamation suit by proving the statements as factual. I suppose it might come down to legal fees, which Trump has definitely tried to use his war chest to wear down legal opposition before. Imagine though if it went to court and a judge slapped it down. You couldn't ask for a better advertisement for a "tell all" book.

I definitely don't have the legal expertise to state whether or not there is a case here that could really stop the book from being published. I do know politically this looks really bad, and commercially this is probably a boost for the author.

Those guys have been prolific. I just got a handle on Abandoned Mansion after listening to Psychedelic Swamp. They've been on a really solid run and have tried just about everything an outfit like that can artfully integrate (weird keyboard driven dancey stuff, their old Beatles-meets-Beach Boys approach, mellow soul-infused stuff, wind instruments, bigger rock moves) so it's fun to see how they draw on their big palette of sounds now. Much like when a new Wilco record comes out.

I can't help but find the Bannon-Trump kerfuffle to be totally captivating. First because it's a rare time where I agree with Bannon (even if they didn't realize the meeting was treasonous (it was), they should have been smart enough to contact the FBI immediately) on anything. Second because the soap-opera of scandal that is the Trump administration is defined by, and self-sabotaged by a continuous stream of in-fighting. There is no unified effort amongst these bastards, just a twinkling cluster of briefly aligned agendas that burn out in a burst of narcissism and backstabbing. On a simply

I think your reaction, and its opposite both to be defensible. It's hard to estimate the facade vs. recklessness ratio of either of these jokers. I hope you're correct.

Sounds like Superchunk has another toe-tapping punk album lined up: https://www.avclub.com/our-most-anticipated-albums-of-2018-that-we-know-of-1821262983 I'm digging 'What a Time to Be Alive'. Jon Wurster is probably the most underrated drummer in contemporary rock music.

It took my wife and I forever to get a babysitter and see this thing and we finally did. Gotta second (or is it third/fourth now?) the whole casino planet diversion was lame. Finn's story line was nothing but annoying until the time when Benicio del Toro stepped in and then it had a little more impact. Another gripe: how did Rey get back to the Millennium Falcon after the stale-mate duel with Kylor Ren? Not impossible, but too difficult not to explain. Also, while I liked the ace-in-the-sleeve psych out on Luke's part at the end, if the whole thing killed him why didn't he just show up and t

Yeah, I suppose when I speak of the Golden Era of Hip Hop it implies that it is over. I hate to admit it, but I don't even like Kendrick Lamar. I like that someone is making prog hip hop but I don't enjoy listening to it, and I recognize Lamar paints a more layered psychological picture as an MC I still get thrown off by some misogynistic lyrics.

^ True that. I was blinded by my own cynicism.

So the tax plan passed. No one seemed to mind that it favors the rich, will eventually end the modest cuts it gives the middle class, and it's projected to add over a trillion to the deficit. Crappy.

After that wide open guitar lead just sustains in your face and it sounds like the song could explode, and then it folds into itself for another hushed chorus.... pretty magical.

Have you had any time with "the golden era" of late 90's early 00's hip hop? I.e. Roots- Things Fall Apart, Black Star, Dilated Peoples- The Platform, Mos Def- Black on Both Sides, Jay-Z- The Blueprint, Raekwon- Built for Cuban Lynx?

I keep wondering if they're going to stick to their new formula of 'rippers only', or if they're gonna spread out again like they did before their hiatus. What they're doing is definitely working, but I wouldn't be sad if there was a touch of 'Come Pick Me Up' or 'Here's to Shutting Up' indulgences.

Oh shit, I didn't even think of this. God, I hope you're wrong, but this is probably an astute prediction.