Beltmann

What's annoying about that kind of bitching is that those commentators know they are being petty spinmeisters, spinning a gripe that has no substance whatsoever. If anyone deserves criticism, it's them. Every time they try to land such low, meaningless blows, I feel personally insulted--do they really think I, and by extension all Americans, are dumb enough to buy this crap? (The worst part is that too many Americans do buy this crap.)

This isn't directed at Tweedling, but is a generalized observation: I saw Michelle Obama's speech in its entirety (on C-SPAN), and within context it was clear what she meant by that line, and it should be obvious to anyone with half a brain. I can't believe so many people get so worked up about such meaningless, petty crap. We could be talking about health care in this country, and instead we talk about Obama's middle name. Jeebus. Speaking of stupid "gotcha" politics, why is it that Ms. Clinton so often stoops to such levels? When she resorts to such childish "gotcha" politics, you mar

I agree with you, twobobs. It's perfectly rational to play the game and consider electability in any given race, but I also think it's perfectly rational to vote outside the two-party parameters--such a vote is not wasted, it's just a vote with an eye on issues larger than the "current" race, such as setting a foundation that may, someday, help strengthen a movement towards a breakdown of the two-party system.

Yesterday I became a dad for the second time. Keaton Zander Beltmann was born February 19th at 7:59am. Both baby and mom are healthy and doing very well! Keaton is a big kiddo: 9 lbs, 11 oz and 20.5 inches long. Since he is surprisingly large, the nurses checked his blood sugar levels and discovered it was low; after one feeding, though, his levels rose to a normal range and everything is now going smoothly. In a few weeks he will be ready to help dad snowblow! And his big sister is already very proud and deeply possessive... she keeps referring to her little brother as "my baby," often

Yep. We met very briefly once, but I can't remember which show. After all the Wisconsin shows, you'd think we'd have had a better, proper meeting by now!

Syndromes and a Century / Thailand / 2006 To my eyes, Apichatpong Weerasethakul is one of the most inexplicably compelling filmmakers alive.

My parents have become quite active at the stable where the horse is kept, and he is used mostly for riding lessons. The stable also hosts a horse show/fundraiser in my brother's honor; this fall will be the third annual fundraiser. My daughter also takes occasional lessons... one of these days I'll post a new pic. Thanks for asking!

I have met many VC'ers--too many to list--thanks mainly to Hodie, LouieB, and Skyflynn, who have introduced me to quite a few people over the years. Sometimes it was just a quick hello, other times longer conversation--but everyone has always been warm, kind, and generous.

Ditto!

Wilby Wonderful / Daniel MacIvor / Canada / 2004 Pretty terrible. The story concerns 24 hours on the tiny island community of Wilby, where a bunch of people experience life and mystery and, you know, deal with stuff. Despite the occasional aside about "islanders" and "mainlanders," the movie has no sense of place; scenes have ideas but no shape; the tone is frequently off; and the evocation of bigotry feels lifted from a bad Fifties melodrama rather than modern America. The movie hits false note after false note. Even the title is overly cutesy--"we'll be wonderful," get it?

Like hell would I want to meet any single one of you people. So, we're on for coffee or something when you're in Milwaukee, right?

I am a fan of this post. Incidentally, I spent all day listening to YHF, as it played on repeat in my classroom. I am in a very good mood right now. (During one class, "Poor Places" arrived at its ending distortion and one student asked, "Is this your car wreck music?")

Oh, I know... I was just elaborating!

I admit, I had reader-response theory in mind. The real point, of course, is that there are varied and competing approaches to art, and there's room for them all.

I haven't looked at this particular PopMatters essay yet, but in general I think that once an artwork is out there in public, what a consumer takes from it often outweighs original intent. Art is not just about "cracking the code" and abiding by it; art mostly matters because we can connect with it on our own personal, subjective levels. For me, if someone says they recognize a metaphor or a symbol, then it's there--even if it was an accident, even if no one else sees it.

Obama Supporter Who Apparently Listened

It reads like a bit of genius from The Onion, but it's not: Barack Obama: Running for Antichrist? As for me, I always wondered whether GWB might be the Antichrist. Or maybe James Carville, but that's mostly because of his beady eyes.

That's pretty much the only part that made logical sense to me.

How can it possibly live up to that? My advice: Listen to it now, as just another record, nothing more nothing less. If it contains magic that magic will reveal itself to you. (I love it.)

I guess people living in Virginia, Maryland, D.C., Hawaii, and here in Wisconsin somehow don't represent the "broad electorate" in this country, and deserve to be overlooked and marginalized. Damn, I wish I lived in Ohio so that I mattered.

Yeah, but the media told me that Obama is all style, no substance, so I refuse to believe that booklet even exists.

When I think of Roy Scheider, I think of Jaws, The French Connection, All That Jazz, and, um, Blue Thunder.

Classy.

I occasionally listen to Savage. Entertaining, yes. Thought-provoking? Not in the way he probably imagines.