Beltmann

Listening now. Thanks!!!!

Both nights were fantastic, even though Night 1 felt standard-issue. The setlist for Night 2 was closer to my heart, especially "Jar," "Ashamed," "Misunderstood," and "Red-Eyed/Got You." Glad I was able to catch both shows. As for the talkers, it wasn't a problem for me either night. My sections seemed to be filled with great fans and great listeners. One cool thing worth mentioning: My wife was only able to go Wednesday, and our seats weren't together (that's not what was cool). She was on the second level and I was on the third, so we hung out together during the opener and then went

He said they wanted to make clear that Wilco have the most "downtrodden" fans--sounds like they are aiming for a thematic connection to the DVD, which, reportedly, notices how certain aspects of American culture, like live venues, are falling apart.

I think I still have this on my DVR. If I do, I'll try to send a copy off to Jesse... EDIT: I have the interview and the sausage race as broadcast on FSN. No first-pitch, though.

Speaking of obvious, have you ever noticed how those who convince themselves that they alone are the "most discerning" almost never are? Build your case. Insights supported by facts, reason, details, and a comprehensive knowledge base are much more persuasive than specious assumptions of superiority.

On the subject of torture, Andrew Sullivan has been awesome--intellectually honest, persistent, soul-searching, inspiring--for a long time now. His commentary is essential. It also carries the weight of credibility, since he originally supported both Bush and the war.

I found this genuinely fascinating! Didn't know that. Also: When I say "often" the T is usually silent, but not always. I say ketchup instead of catsup. When I say "grocery" it sounds like grossery. I drink milk, but never "melk."

My first contact was with Beautiful Freak and I've been a huge fan ever since. Shootenanny felt like a departure in terms of tone, but it still felt like the Eels and I grew to love it. It's not quite in the same category as Freak, Electro, Daisies, and Blinking--at least not to me--but the Eels canon is still enriched by at least half of its songs. It's a great Saturday morning record and I still listen to it often.

I watch these two announcers every night and, for the most part, enjoy them--but tonight they embarrassed themselves. They didn't even try to conceal the fact that they knew nothing about Wilco except for the few notes handed to them moments before. Most of their comments were about the Pabst Theater, not the band, and for long, awkward stretches they seemed to have no idea what to ask next. (Schroeder seemed genuinely confused about who Tweedy was and barely said a word, while Anderson kept getting his facts wrong and kept repeating the same dull questions just to fill time until the innin

It's up there for me, too. Love it.

You should add M. Ward the night before Neko!

It's (almost) always matinees for us.

My first encounter with Wong Kar-Wai's Ashes of Time was years ago, when it was only available as a cruddy, improperly framed transfer with incoherent and out-of-sync subtitles. Buried under there was a good, possibly great, movie, but you had to use your imagination to dig it out. This new cleaned-up and re-worked version takes all the guesswork out of the experience: It's pure pleasure, and some kind of martial arts classic.

I finally got around to watching Twilight, which wasn't awful; it's easy to see why so many young girls love it, and it was amusing to watch the movie tap into the vampire genre's usual preoccupation with sexuality by flipping it around and connecting the characters' repressed urges to abstinence. Still, it seemed laugh-out-loud silly far too often. Plus, it's a love story between a 17-year-old girl and a 108-year-old vampire. The age difference is way creepier than the he-might-suck-her-blood factor.

Another one of my students once wrote that she committed a "Mister Meaner" over the weekend.

"Pitcher" instead of picture "Wesconsin" instead of Wisconsin Last week one of my students argued forcefully that the phrase was "out of contest" and not "out of context."

Might have to clear out your cache.

I remember hearing the news while my soon-to-be wife and I were out and about searching for an apartment. Shook me up.

303, "extremely progressive"

When I was a kid, I demanded that my bike license plate be "19," in honor of my favorite shortstop.

Roger Ebert reminiscing about the newspaper life. Here's a taste:

James - Seven

Eels - Blinking Lights and Other Revelations

Lots of great stuff mentioned; I'll just reiterate the collected works of Guy Maddin, David Cronenberg, and Atom Egoyan, and say that Atanarjuat is a universal myth set in the everyday, an exhilarating tall tale of the ordinary. I'll also add The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, Ginger Snaps, The Snow Walker, and a few short films: When the Day Breaks; The Man Who Planted Trees; Ryan.