SeattleC

Their Wilco list was rubbish.

The dis on Via Chicago (the board, not the song) was rubbish.

I have to agree with the choices of underrated songs though. Company In My Back, A Shot in The Arm, and Remember the Mountain Bed are superior songs that aren't high on most lists. Hard to pick a favorite Wilco song, but Company In My Back is in there.

As for REM, I like Accelerate, but only for Peter Buck's guitar work. I don't think it's overrated, but that's because I never thought it got a high rating among fans and critics.

Terribly depressing to say the least. A protest vote but one that might stop the best chance of health-care reform in my lifetime dead in its tracks.

Where is the fairy dust when we need it? (Jon Stewart/Larry Wilmore were quite good about that subject tonight)

I'd like my government services for free, thank you very much, just don't raise my taxes. I'm looking forward to seeing all the state parks here close for example; recreation, who needs it?

What a weird time and place we live in. Just don't get lose your job and decide to break a leg anytime soon. And just forget about preexisting conditions.

Hey, they blew off my request for an interview for the Woodstock Times and I have 18,000-plus posts here.

I think I'd have carpal tunnel by now.

Interesting chess match, but it’s now checkmate on this special election. A year and a half ago, I never expected Obama to win, but his organization pulled it off, with no small thanks to Palin, who in some ways was Obama's ‘Ross Perot’ gift horse. At least, unlike Clinton, Obama won with more than 50% of the vote. I just hope where this all goes from here is good for the country. The fact is, it’s a lot harder to govern wisely than to get elected. Hear that Mr. Brown?

No love for Hallelujah?

Leonard Cohen's version is awesome.

whew! glad to get that out there and that I'm not alone

Not at all, I've tried, but it doesn't work.

That's one of the best memoirs I have ever read, and probably one of the best music books, too.

It is a really good read, especially for an autobiography. I've got to check the new album out. I was lukewarm about Hombre Lobo.

I assume a tour will follow, although I haven't seen anything announced yet. One of the best live shows I've ever seen was Eels with strings, on the Blinking Lights tour. My clothes smelled like E's cigars for awhile after that one. Glad the fire marshall didn't shut it down. Oh, and those lovely string players! and the Chet, you gotta love it when the Chet plays trash can.

Like Paul Simon's Graceland performed by east coast preppies, but I like it. I'm pretty sure Jules does not, though

It's not always easy to distinguish sarcasm from sincerity on this thread, is it?

Vampire Weekend

This seems to be rather popular lately, but I'm not sure I've heard any. What's it like? May have to track down some and check it out.

There is a certain smarmy smugness that some of you guys exude.

 

We pound new posters mercilessly around here.

smarm·y (smärm) KEY

ADJECTIVE:

smarm·i·er, smarm·i·est

1. Hypocritically, complacently, or effusively earnest; unctuous. See Synonyms at unctuous.
2. Sleek

Smug (smg)

adj. smug·ger, smug·gest Exhibiting or feeling great or offensive satisfaction with oneself or with one's situation; self-righteously complacent: "the smug look of a toad breakfasting on fat marsh flies" (William Pearson).

I don't think I've ever seen the combination of smarmy and smugness in a sentence before so I was curious about redundancy, but I love the example smug sentence by William Pearson. It was worth the quick search.

This board is not easy to be casual on, but welcome rpmurphy, although I have way too few posts to be on the official welcoming committee.

I'd suggest checking out Calexico, the Minus 5 (previously suggested), Iron and Wine, and Robyn Hitchcock if you like Wilco.

Is this a joke? [the original post, I mean...Uncle Tupelo?]

Did anyone mention Jay Farrar

Ever try laughing all the way to the bank? Not easy.

First hand knowledge?

One thing Sarah Palin probably doesn't have to worry about for the rest of her life is money. If she's smart (if....) she'll just take advantage of her fame, work a few hours a week for fox, reap the proceeds of her book, and go fishing. Not a bad life.

And how much is she getting paid for this one:

Palin to address alcohol industry event in Las VegasPosted: January 12th, 2010 06:07 PM ET
From CNN Political Producer Peter Hamby
Palin will speak to the Wine and Liquor Wholesalers of America in April.Washington (CNN) – Las Vegas and alcohol probably aren't the first two things that come to mind at the mention of Sarah Palin, but the former vice presidential candidate is about to change that.

At least that's according to Craig Wolf, the president and CEO of the Wine and Liquor Wholesalers of America, who announced Tuesday that Palin will keynote the group's annual convention and and expo in Las Vegas in early April.

"Governor Palin is a great supporter of America's free enterprise system and understands that industries like the beverage alcohol industry play a key role in driving our national economy. We're proud and honored to welcome her as a speaker," Wolf said in a statement. "We expect she will share with the convention attendees her analysis of the current political environment and her vision for America's future."

Holy molley, never seen have I a thread creative of this magnitude positive on board.

Where was I back in 2007? This explains me why via chicago has survived long it has, while being so usually blando.

That made me want to go to Cannon Beach again. And why not, it's been warmer around here lately than in Miami!

The Eagles. No question in my mind.

That's a good one, I can support that in my top 5. I find it amazing that the Eagles could take their inspiration from people like Gram Parsons and ruin it to the degree they did.

Britney Spears is a pretty obvious contender, I'll go with it.

I just looked at my ticket. You haven't been duped, at least if you have, it's not because of the www.wilco.com reference. I got my ticket directly from ticketheister, and that's what it says. Good job, whoever did the quality control on that one. A Swiss leak detection company, eh? - that should be good for business.

That being said, Portland is the only one of the three shows in the Northwest that I'm attending without company, so if anyone is up for a preshow wonderfully hoppy Portland microbrew or something else liquid that would be served in one of the fine establishments nearby, let me know, because I will be found at one of them beforehand. I know of several options nearby.

It was a good year for shows:

PJ Harvey - June 17 at the Moore, Seattle - no question it was best show of the year for me

Joey Burns and John Convertino (Calexico);opening for Neko Case - they were better - June 2 at the Pantages in Tacoma

Robyn Hitchcock and the Venus 3 twice, at the Triple Door March 21, and returning to the newly revamped Crocodile in October

Gillian Welch and David Rawlings headlining the No Depression festival July 11 at Marymoor Park, Redmond, WA, and great performances by many other bands, including Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hearafter and a solo performance by Sam Beam (Iron and Wine)

David Byrne at the Paramount in June (June was a good month for shows here!)

Son Volt at Neumos, Seattle, best surprise of the year - really, really good just a few weeks ago in early December

Biggest disappointment - Bob Dylan at a surprise show at the Moore - really small venue for him, but just not a great show

Best non-musical show - attending a live taping of the Daily Show with Jon Stewart in New York, and getting to personally ask him a question in his pre-show warm up with the studio audience

That rather sucks.

I was talking to a couple of Vancouver locals last night and they were telling me about the greek pizza place in Vancouver that was called Olympic Pizza, and they were forced to take their sign now after 40+ years of being in business. I love the sporting aspect of the games, but the corporate stuff sucks. I heard we are going to have to change the name of the Olympic Mountains until the games are over.

Rhode Island is beautiful...Newport although very tourist is really worth a visit. Providence too has a decent town and better Italian food than little Italy in NYC! At least you have a good final state to go I got North Dakota! I am going to hit up North Dakota next year as my goal is to hit all 50 before my 30th Bday in August! What did you do in North Dakota? I am just planning a night in Fargo....hopeful I can catch a concert at the Fargo Dome when I am up there...

I did some work a long time ago in the oil fields of western North Dakota. I also drove across it a couple of times when travelling between Madison and Seattle. Never did anything in Fargo other than breakfast - don't get too excited. The badlands (similar to South Dakota's) in the southwest of the state are beautiful and deserted. Driving across the state is not something I'd ever opt to do again.

I've always wanted to go to Providence actually, and also to check out touristy Newport. One day!

American Samoa

Argentina

Australia

Austria

Bahamas, The

Barbados

Belgium

Belize

Bosnia and Herzogovina

Brazil

Canada (Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island)

Chile

China

Costa Rica

Croatia

Czech Republic

Denmark

Ecuador

Egypt

Estonia

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

Guam

Hungary

Iceland

Israel

Ireland

Italy

Jamaica

Japan

Latvia

Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Luxemborg

Mexico

Monaco

Morrocco

Netherlands

New Zealand

Norway

Peru

Poland

Portugal

Russia

Slovakia

Slovenia

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

Turkey

United Kingdom

United States

Uruguay

Vatican City

Virgin Islands

**************************

added Costa Rica, Iceland, Ecuador, China

Airports don't count, or I'd add Panama

49 states as well. Gotta get to Rhode Island one day.

Finally Slovenia in the house!!!!!!!!

Damn. I just missed claiming Slovenia! Beautiful Ljublijana. I'll never forget the old folks doing shots of Slivovitz at 8AM at the train station. And the lack of food (white bread even) available in the grocery. Or how our train was held at the Italian border for hours while they searched for weapons smuggling going into Slovenia. But that was a while ago, and technically, it wasn't Slovenia, it was Yugoslavia, but not to the Slovenians. One of the strangest trips I've ever taken. The Sovenian Alps are amazingly beautiful. But I stray from the thread....

One day, it would be cool to set this up in poll fashion, and tally the numbers for each country. As it is, it will be over fast as a thread. I still love the concept though.

That really captured the feeling of what I saw a week ago in Seattle. Way beyond my expectations.

Here are the rules...if you have been to any countries still on the list of the person above you remove them in your reply....I have taken out the ones I have been to. There are currently 203 countries in the world (Don't mind the numbers after the countries name) I also added Antartica even though I guess it is not a country but I feel should be on the list.

 

PS..yes I know I am a dork.

 

Also on a side note I have been on the borders with Guatemala, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia (within 10 miles), Jordan but never made it in.

 

 

OK Do over! Great concept, but now I've read the whole thread, and it's not even remotely working. It would be cool if it was set up as a poll to tally the countries viachicagoans have been to. Clearly from reviewing the thread, we have many well travelled members.

Not that I'm volunteering to set it up

It's not, for example, Ecuador was already out, but it's in this list

We need to reboot this thread