Beltmann

I have nothing to add other than to say that I, too, cannot abide this song. I loathe it.

One of my college Brit Lit professors was obsessed with Seamus Heaney.

I keep watching these things and keep not enjoying them. This one has plenty of ripe ideas about the relationship between gender, power, and sex, so if you felt like unpacking it I'm sure you could locate some metaphorical richness--but I didn't feel like bothering.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BRIANNE!

Not that funny? Really? I would argue that the "bizarre dichotomy" you describe was partially what fueled some surprisingly nimble comedy, and that what you call "pure drama" was actually closer to "pure deadpan" designed to simmer at very low heat. This season has definitely been lackluster, but this episode, to my mind at least, provided some of the richest, wittiest humor this show has ever achieved. As for Michael being a man-child, I have to ask: Are you insane? Have you ever seen this show before? His transformation into an unbelievable man-child was virtually the major story arc

I didn't know this! If I had known earlier I might have made a point to get there... Can't make it now, though--other stuff going on.

This arrived from Netflix today. Not sure how it got so high in the queue, but all right.

Ah! Last night we even took another look because we felt like we should know who it was... but neither of us remembered Mose! Nice. The deposition scenes were so filled with irony and layers, it was like watching an intricate card tower being built... that was some prime writing right there. Brilliant stuff. And the scene with Toby at lunch was the kind of awkward, painful humor that I love--I like it when I don't know exactly how to respond to a scene.

Yeah, I turned to my wife and said, "You know, she makes a good distinction."

What percentage of people working minimum-wage jobs are using that job to try to maintain a home and support a family? (Don't get me wrong, though--I'm sure a certain percentage falls into that category, and I fully support a raise in the minimum-wage. I just think we need to be honest in our arguments.)

That was the best episode of this season, so far at least.

One of my favorite Thanksgiving dinners ever was the year Stacy and I were in Atlanta visiting my sister and we all found the nastiest pizza dive we could. It was a refreshing change of pace.

And therefore wisdom. All I know is that my 33-year-old self sure is embarrassed about the notions espoused by my 20-year-old self. I'm no less idealistic now, but I'm much wiser--and hopefully I'll continue to accumulate wisdom with each passing year.

I've been listening to this a lot this week, and I'm diggin' it.

When was that Prodigy thing? That was my first message-board kind of thing.

Perfect.

No, as I said, it can't be imposed. I'm not prescribing what those ethics ought to be--just saying that ethical obligations to our fellow citizens exist, whatever that means.

Yeah, or their sense of ethics. Sometimes those things even coincide.

I also have a collection of severed limbs that I have accumulated over the years. I enjoy canning.

I sincerely thank you, but mostly I went into teaching to torment children with emotional and psychological devastation.

I don't think what I said contradicts your point, which I already acknowledge. I think I just failed to clarify what I meant by "relatively," mostly because I didn't think it was necessary. Admittedly, it was a vague statement--but the larger point holds, I think, regardless of the vague and debatable meaning of "relatively."

I was speaking relatively--and you know it. And yes, English teachers are far more interchangeable than professional baseball players. If I quit today, my job would be easily filled by someone of relatively equal ability. But if a superstar leaves a team, very few others could fill that hole. This is why, while I feel underpaid, I don't think I should earn anywhere near what a professional athlete earns. Their abilities are relatively rare and therefore of greater value.

But for the most part, plumbers are interchangeable, one as good as another. I don't mean to minimize their contributions; I believe firmly that anyone doing honest, useful work ought to earn a good living. Still, it's not the same with ballplayers, since ballplayers are often not interchangeable--especially when we're talking about top stars like A-Rod. I agree with you that the degree of worship and wealth accorded to athletes is obscene, and that many other professionals do not receive the respect, and by extension the compensation, that they deserve. This certainly reflects poorly on