lost highway

If "skewed left" means that you perceive government as serving a role in increasing economic stability, providing a safety net, and at its best increasing the quality of life of its citizens, then yes- a lot of professors are skewed left. A lot of smart people in general.

It's not statistical, but I've heard a few anecdotal pieces from participants on NPR. One person got gouged (a wealthy business owner who's premiums actually went up along with his deductible), and another had some decent savings (a middle class free-lancer who's premiums went down considerably). The thing I'm considering is this: while on the one hand this needs time to shake down, before we can evaluate its many successes and failures; on the other hand this could be but one in a string of health care reforms that could pass in the next few decades. I'm still not done with the single pay

Ugh.

What you're saying is smart and true. (man I suck at trolling)

Is this where the 9/11 jokes come in? Sorry, I don't mean to troll. What you're saying is obviously true. Sometimes it's really easy (satisfying) to take a shit on the symbol of something after the media and politicians have whored it around a bit. At some point the word Benghazi stops sounding like a reference to a real place, or any specific event, and more of a political talking point. If I jest, 'tis merely at that. Or you can take the other road (that you took) and remind people that there's still an authentic root to a conversation that has been corrupted.

Holy crap the new record by Bottomless Pit is amazing. If you've ever heard of Silkworm, it's surviving members of that band. Think Fugazi with subtle pop sensibilities and you're getting close. Kind of some Neil young guitar moments too.

Snuff- fairly obscure English pop punk band with horns. They are pretty good, and are kind of known in circles of people who care about that kind of thing. Seems like the perfect fit. I can say that about most any semi-obscure band that plays music I regard as "fun", without being brilliant or groundbreaking.

Oh no! And I forgot to buy her something. Did you do something special for Benghazi day?

So you don't think that while all the companies are competing to get everyone's required insurance purchase that a company might get more business by offering a lower price? Seems like a fundamental capitalist concept.

No, it is different. Instead of comparing what I think about this band versus your thoughts, it is a comparison of some greater critical consensus versus an individual experience of it. True it is also subjective, but that's what makes it interesting.

That's good info. Thanks for sharing it, it's actually the first first-hand report I've seen other than some doofus on the TV.

I have a feeling that history will give them their due: a high-selling, vanilla, sentimental, arena-folk band.

If anything, this thread proves how critical acclaim can ruin people's ability to hear a band for both better and worse. I had to start ignoring the endless "album of the year" praise for The National's "Boxer" to just hear it for what it is: great. Likewise, as an underground music fan who passed his teenage years in the 90's and my college years in the 00's it took a lot of things to line up for me to actually hear the Stones. I mean really hear them. I had to get past decades of secondary references: my dad's friends wearing their t-shirts, rock criticism, ubiquitous cultural reference

My highest hopes have the ACA as a somewhat helpful change for a percentage of the population who needs it, but my deepest fears imagine a bureaucratic tangle that works poorly. Neither warrant the vitriol from the GOP- as its infighting slowly divides a trench between moderates and nut-jobs. I also feel that in spite of projections, we won't have good enough anecdotal, or data-based evidence on the law to make a clear evaluation for at least a year.

I agree. It's lame, slick, paint-by-numbers in too many places. When they let out hints that they were "experimenting" I thought they would be trying some more abstract ideas, instead they were "experimenting" with power ballads.

Jesus, I wouldn't bother.

I think this is a smaller version of what has happened with the vinyl market. Most labels figure collectors are the minority any more so they market physical product at a boutiquey kind of price. Granted with vinyl it usually costs more, but you get more. On the CD they probably figured: the majority will never buy it, but the minority will always buy it. Therefore, mark it up. You get gouged for liking high quality audio and having liner notes in your hand.

That was the tour where his voice ran into a little trouble, and it makes this recording of that song so affective. That song can almost make me tear up when I'm feeling sentimental. Everlasting, not so much.

That is so easily disproved by the health care systems of so many other countries. Following that line of thinking, public education should be full of dumb-dumbs or those pesky foreigners you mentioned.

Man, I just can't believe our government is about to shut down right now- that Republicans are willing to make the economy and so many people who work in the public sector suffer to fight a political battle against Obamacare.

I've listened to it once, and my review usually changes after hearing something 3 or 4 times, but I gotta say: it seems kind of boring. Nothing awful, or lame. I don't regret any of the music on there... it just kind of passed by with nothing to feel excited about. I'm definitely going to try it a few more times, Dr. Dog has provided enough joy in my life to deserve a second look at this new record.

For my money "At Least That's What You Said" is just about the boldest production statement, in terms of going against the grain of blown-out, loud masters. It's tough to find any major label rock or pop music from the last 20 years that allows for a passage that quiet.

Her accusations of Obama "unilaterally and unconstitutionally" defunding elements of Obamacare are eyebrow raising, and not backed up with any factual citation. What is she getting at there?

Well, bit rate and dynamic range are two different things. While the Whole Love mastering isn't as gentle as A Ghost Is Born I certainly wouldn't call it a contender for the loudness wars. They probably recorded it at 24bit/ 96khz which is an objectively better medium to hear it at. I suppose you're operating under the opinion that the 16-bit tracks sound "like shit", in which case you're probably right, the 24 bit version isn't going to make a huge difference. I also agree with you that folks shouldn't shell out a bunch of extra money if they don't understand quite what they're getting

I've wanted one for about a decade. Couldn't ever pony up the cash.