Sweet Papa Crimbo

The commercial is tacky and I hate it. Before they became just another marketing tool, flash mobs were great for introducing spontaneity into everyday life – now, as is the case with just about everything else, the idea has been co-opted and commoditized by marketers. And thus dies yet another form of spontaneous creativity for creativities’ sake – the sort of events that take place just for the hell of it, with no interest in selling you something.

 

As for the decision to sell another song, meh, whatever – I haven’t really listened to (new) Wilco all that much since Sky Blue Sky.

 

At some point, Wilco's entire catalog will be probably be available for use in commercials, etc - that will be fun.

Wow...I'm glad to see you back!!!

Why do people keep asking why the band hasn't played as many songs from one of its worst albums? Shouldn't we just be happy about it and move on?

 

Wilco's fandom is a bit like Springsteen's and Dylan's in the worship of unreleased material. The officially unreleased material takes on a mythic quality that is not based on any merits of the music itself, and become a touchstone for concert experiences and becomes the measure of being a 'true fan'.

How many times does a Wilco fan (either here or in the real world) cite some obscure, trifiling that's one distinct feature is that it is not an officially released song?

I will file this in the large "who gives a rat's ass about this useless information" file I have in my brain and proceed with my life in peace.

Anyone else really bothered by the amount of Voter ID bills going through Republican controlled states? It seems that the GOP controlled states want to win this election for Mitt Romney either by hook or by crook.

 

Was wondering what the prevailing thoughts on this were from the likes you all.

It takes an ID to cash a check. You have to have an ID to check a book out of a library. But not to cast a ballot?

Believe it or not, EVERYTHING is not a conspiracy to disenfranchise minority voters.

not sure if you are being facetious or not, but i'll take you at face value. thanks

Absolutely serious.

she uses twitter like aging hollywood stars use plastic sugery.

That is really, really witty.

I read this, smiled, and thought about your implication of this statment and said to myself "that is pretty damn witty".

Today, my youngest child turns 18

HAPPY BIRTHDAY D-MAN!!!

I nearly replied to you to calm down because you're set to play 3 against my Twins, the team with the worst run differential in the game (-85). It seems, though, that the Rangers' slump is for real.

Oh yeah...it's real. What is really irking and disturbing is that, with a few exceptions, the starting pitchers on the dl haven't really hurt the team. But Young, Napoli and Cruz have been absolutely horrid the last month or so.

Now the Rangers are talking about going after Greinke.

I think before the end of July we are going to see Olt and Profar in the bigs. Kinsler had bettter learn to play LF...

Well, I guess I would be remiss if I didn't mention the Ranger/White Sox series was a fun to watch - great series. Hats off to the Rangers for the below and for the White Sox for ending the Ranger's streak. Brutal weather, too.

The Rangers and their disappearing offense is getting a bit worrisome.

Michael Young, Mike Napoli and Nellie Cruz are rally killers.

That is why a government option should have been included. ACA is really a law that benefits the insurance company. Remember the individual mandate was first suggested by the Heritage foundation.

 

So if Romney is elected he will repeal the law. Someone tell me how he is going to do that? I am pretty sure that the constitution does not give the president that power. Wish someone in the media would ask him that.

Maybe he'll do it with an executive order...

I don't think they'll move Profar. I think it's more likely that Profar stays at SS and Andrus moves over to 2B.

Either way, I'm really excited to see the kid make it to the bigs.

I'm not an expert on law but didn't Roberts just change it from a penalty to a tax thus making it constitutional? And didn't Obama reject the notion that it was ever a tax?

Very interesting how this is playing out in just over a few hours already.

Yep.

Just it's a makeup for the Citizen's United ruling.(JK)

I seriously doubt Kinsler can play CF. Plus, with Martin and Gentry, he wouldn't need to. The biggest question is what to do with Murphy and Cruz, who are both going to become free agents after next year (2014). Murphy is going to play himself into a full-time starting role somewhere, but he still struggles against LHP. And Cruz will probably never match his 2010 season.

Next year, I can see this team going forward without Hamilton, Cruz, Napoli and possibly Lewis and Murphy.

I agree about debating it.

I just have a real aversion to people who act as though Government action was the only thing that can save people.

The ACA is a poorly constructed band aid.

The problem is not the insurance, but the outrageous costs associated with Health Care.

How is someone who can't afford health insurance going to be helped by paying a tax/penalty for not having health insurance?

I say we move Kins to left next year and bring Profar up to play second. I think the most important long-term deal we need to get done is Elvis. This will create a logjam in the outfield/DH spot for next year if Profar is ready with Cruz in his last year and Murphy, Gentry, Martin, and potentially Kinsler. I'd like to see them give Olt some time at first base so he can fill that role eventually. The problem is having Michael Young around who really needs to just be a utility infielder off the bench at this point, but will make too much money to justify that.

Wow...you have been listening to my conversations with my son, haven't you.

The only difference in my scenario was moving Kinsler to Center. But Left Field would be better...would allow Martin to slide into Center. I think Profar is probably ready, but he hasn't taken any reps at Second at Frisco.

There is no problem with losing Hamilton next year. I hope the Rangers let another team pay him an obscene amount of money. We have plenty of answers.

I would generally agre with your statement if Young wasn't showing his age and Cruz was more consistent.

However, I have been really impressed with Martin with his call up appearances. If Profar and Olt are ready next year...then things will get REALLY interesting.

http://mlb.mlb.com/n...ws_mlb&c_id=mlb

 

Yanks pitching has gotten short in the last 24 hours. Sabathia to the DL with a groin strain and Pettitte has a fractured ankle. Cashman has been saying he's probably not going to be making any trades, so maybe these injuries makes the Yankees an active team in this summer's trade market.

There's a lot to be said about having a good farm system.

The Rangers have lost Holland, Feliz, Ogando and now Lewis; and with the signing of Oswalt, have not missed a beat.

And...word has it that Daniels is now pursuing Greinke.

I'd rather that he look to solve the potential problem the team is going to face with losing Hamilton nest year, but the Farm system is chock full of excellent prospects that he should be able to turn for good return.

I wonder if the supporters of the Affordable Care Act understand that this is not a single payer system.

When people start paying a penalty (tax) for not having health insurance...it's interesting.

I am really dispassionate about this.I have a job. I have health insurance. I have relatives who don't have health insurance. I have also worked two jobs for 15 years to be able to afford certain lifestyle choices that I have made and to put my kids through college. I understand the costs. But I also understand the basic philosophical and political argument about personal choice and responsibility.

Will this lead to lower health care costs? Will it lead to better health care across the board? Or are we heading for the usual lowest common denominator like we always seem to get with Federal action? I'm afraid I already know the answers, but I hope to be surprised.

I am a little leery of all the hagiography of Mr. Obama. The messianic tone to his campaign(s) is scary.

Of course, the Republicans fielded the weakest slate in my lifetime.

Really, really fun stuff.

I was really fearful that he would get off. Hell, a prosecutor 'disappeared' several years after charges were bandied about. Penn State is a really powerful institution. It was tried in the area.

All those factors really had me worried.

I just wonder how many other kids haven't come forward yet.

Straw man arguments and ad hominum attacks aside, it is not so gray an area. Just because it is possible to do something doesn't mean it should or has to be done.

I guess I have a different view as a reformed music stealer. It was fun chasing the stuff down and I really did BUY other albums by the artist I ripped off, but as I was downloading the stuff, I knew what I was doing.

As I have A LOT of CD's,maybe I have a different view of this. I'm sure if I were an impoverished student, I would have a totally different view of things.

I have a juch different relationship to music and technology than my son. This is topic for ethicists, not attornies.

Ambivalence is the word here.

Well being the smartest guy in the room has its pitfalls.

 

Bleed, I am sorry if you took my tone as condescending, I didn't mean to do that. I was merely trying to point out that in the past this has been attempted and been blocked via filibuster.

 

I am so sick and tired of people not looking at was done in the past, so I am resigned to the fact they hey the only way to get shit done in this country is to bypass the normal means of legislation. So I am to the point where I say fuck it, the country is broken beyond repair, the two sides will never agree on anything, let alone get any meaningful law passed. In order to get anything done we need to use these back door methods. It is unfortunate. I have no faith in our political process to actually help anyone anymore.

All hail the imperial Presidency.

I'm not going to break Godwin's law, but these opinions are, at best, troubling.