America!

Dave and I watched the game while chatting with each other on YIM. I was at the cabin ( I had been since Friday night) and by the end we were conditioning ourselves for the loss: He texted 'Sigh', and I responded 'oh well'. By the Very End I was screaming and hollering, but, alas, I was alone at the cabin so there was no one to hear me scream.

I spent the last couple of night sitting on the deck tending the grill a watching movies on my laptop.  No need for a plate, I'd just eat right off the grill.  Saw Book of Eli and and the Ugly Truth.   First lets get it out of the way:  yes I was watching the Ugly Truth by myself, and no, I didn't think it was a response to Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth. I  KNEW it was a rom-com, but I kinda have a thing for the lead.  I like that guy.  Anyhow, it was unoriginal (aren't they all)  (No! Wedding Crashers and maybe Sarah Marshal... and 40 year old virgin.. my point is that sometimes they are good).  This one wasn't but I enjoyed it.

Suck it.  I -do- drink beer for taste, so I got that going for me. But then again, I sometimes carry a carry all.

Alex had told me to watch Eli, and it is obvious why.  Well done theme.  You all know I am touchy about how Christianity is portrayed in movies. Still enjoyed this movie , despite its implication (That Christian fervor is responsible for an apocalyptic war).  It's not that movie is so good despise that implication, its that the movie is otherwise as pro-christian as they come. Seriously.  Add it to NRO's list of all time most conservative movies. (Pure coincidence that I mention NRO's culture section in subsequent posts, but while I am on the subject, that list of theirs doesn't include Demolition Man, which is by far the most conservative movie of all time.   What did I call them? Rubes?  RUBES!)

Steve, Matt and Dave just left. I don't get a chance to brag about game night much, since I am not actually that good, but I came in 1st and 2nd today, out of two games.  Dave got skunked. That never happens in small group play.

Steve though. He's a gamer.

OK. cabin again this weekend. Toronto this week. Atlanta for a week. Then Austin (with a brief stop in Kansas City to see Tara get Married).

But really I should be documenting this world cup.   I have seen all but seven or eight games.   Well, they have been on in the background at least.   I love it.       I would like to see more definitive outcomes but whatever. I  love it.

I still hate the haters.  I listen to local sports radio on the drive back from Blue Ridge, and  lo-and-behold the only soccer they were discussion was whether or not America gives a shit  I wanted to call in and tell them soccer isn't in the dock and pretending it is demonstrates their ignorance and insecurity, but then I thought,  "why the hell am I listening to sports talk", and "oh my god did I actually consider CALLING sports talk?"    I still feel lame, and I probably exaggerated how close I was to calling..

World Cup is the greatest sporting even in the world, by oh, a few thousand deca-meters (I hope that is far, I have no idea).  If you don't recognize that, you are being obtuse ("OBTUSE, is it intentional?").   Its fine if you don't like it, it really is.  But it is not in the Dock and maybe if you stopped pretending it was you would start to enjoy it.  If that's too much to ask, at least let the casual listener in on the scores of the active games once in a while. For Eli's sake, that's what sports news is ostensibly for! Isn't it?

"It was never in doubt, except for the first 90 minutes"*

*Best opening line of an article ever

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outside of Norlinger's writings on Classical music, the National Review's cultural musings have always been boring and uninsightful.  It's hard for me not to impugn their motives, and also call it apologetic or reactionary, but the hidden message behind NRO's collection cultural articles seems to be "Don't worry, keep doing what you are doing you aren't missing anything".

I've felt that way since the first cultural articles were posted, and feel compelled to write it now, because they insist on patting themselves on the back for not liking soccer. There is nothing more tedious then people explaining why they don't like soccer. IT IS A SPORT, you aren't obliged to like it.  There is no justification necessary!    I am reminded of the grade-school loudmouths who, not knowing what particular jet was flying overhead, would list loudly all the planes it wasn't, for that at least afforded them the chance to talk about things they knew.      Such it is with people who feel compelled talk about World Cup in any way other than engaged.

I love you NRO, but SHUT THE FUCK UP.    Really.  SHUT UP.   Finding some other commentator on the other edge of the internetverse who also doesn't like soccer isn't an excuse to regurgitate your own feelings on the matter.  What purpose is served by posting polls showing that soccer still hasn't caught on?

Karen lent me her Allison Krause and Robert Plant collaboration. ("He was in some band called led zeppelin", she said.  'Yes', I replied, and then cautioned her against ever describing them aloud as "Some Band" while in the South, though it was college before I knew any of their songs myself).      I haven't got a feel for the whole album yet, but the song "Killing the blues" is INCREDIBLE.  There is also a moody cover of Townes's Nothin and another good song called "Read the Letter". 

I don't normally give these "Designed to win an Grammy" records a chance, but I am glad I did in this case.

You know what other song is good. Lost Cause by beck.    "killing the blues" reminds me of "lost cause"  for some reason.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I just noticed the Andy made an elliot smith comment... funny.    You know who -is- good?  Miike Smith (no typo, has two 'i's).

I have now missed 2 and a  half world cup games. I have seen all the rest and am watching the Dutch opener right now at Meehans in Sandy Springs. 

I should have wrote this before the cup started, but I can reference my ESPN bracket if it ever becomes a point of contention: My teams are USA, Chile, England, Netherlands and Ghana.

Had a big planned dinner at Holeman last night, 8 beers, 4 courses.  Lots of parts of course.  It was hard to get up to watch the Dutch this morning, but I knew I would toss and turn in indecision if I didn't get up. So here I am. rooting for the Dutch in an empty bar that I don't even like.    What the hell was I thinking?!

Still. Its the World Cup!

 Went to a party beforehand and the host had a coffee roaster. a ROASTER.   and a 5 gallon bag of unroasted  Colombian.

 Crazy Heart was good.  Very much inspired by Billy Joe Shaver (who I wrote about a few posts ago).   The link was made explicit when Duval sang "Live Forever" while fishing.    I have had just read on a friends blog that robert Duval sings, acapella, Shaver's 'Live forever' in a fishing boat on a lake with the Dude, I would immediately rent that movie, but if you need more incentive, you should know there are at least two obvious Big Lebowski reverences.. For instance, one of the first scenes is a reverse angle shot of Bad Blake, sitting at a bar in a bowling alley. 

I'll let you find the rest.

There was also some Townes burnt into Bad Blake (the movies fictional musician), but the only Townes song in the movie seems a little out of place.    Go watch already.

 

 

Dr Saturday wrote that it was like America's funniest videos except Bob Sagat got to be himself, not Danny Tanner.  So I checked out Tosh.0 and was pretty impressed. One episode showed a clip and said that it was like watching college girls run away from Bill Maher:

Now, I can't stand Bill Maher, and my dislike predates his repulsive political 'humor'. In fact, it predates the now agreed upon definition of Douchebag.  I know because in college I was at the mellow mushroom with some friends and he walked by outside, and though none of us were familiar with the man, we were all instantly put off, but silent for want of adequate vocabulary. No more will be caught unprepared.

Spent too much time fiddling with the St Petersburg paradox this week.. just trying to get my head around the issue, and then I bought St Petersburg the game and got schooled by Dave 3 to 0.   Ugh.

Saw three comedians at the Laughing Skull. Gram Elwood was the headliner, but his opener Trevor Williams was the most impressive.  He's routine needs a little work, but his stage presence is perfect.  He made me spit Guinness out of my nose, calling himself on some particularly poor audience interaction.     Gram was good too once he warmed up (I suspect coming out while everyone was fulfilling their two drink minimum, and then have to slow play his start until he had everyone's attention did him in). Everyone in Atlanta should get out and support the Laughing skull comedy club (at the Vortex in midtown). I know , I know, I go to one comedy show and now I am coming on like the fucking ambassador of the arts, but its such a small place, your attendance really counts..

Margaret Cho  did a surprise set. It was the Bluest bit of comedy I have ever seen. That she didn't end it with an aristocrats joke surprised me.  It was very well done though. Outclassed the other two.  But not for long, Trevor will make a name for himself.

Oh, I also saw Imogen Heap.  Not a great concert.   Not enough atmosphere.

Oh wait, one last thing. At the end of Gram's act he emphasized that everyone should say hi after the show.. " i'll be right over there, so when you leave don't feel like you have to just walk past, even if you don't want to buy any of my merchandise I'd love to thank you for coming out", which was a classy send off. Except he set up at the entrance, which was opposite the club's exit.   So no one exiting walked past him.    I did walk past him because I was going the other way, and in my head  I wanted to joke with him about the mistake....  What I SHOULD have said was "Not gonna move a Lotta tape this way", but I totally didn't think of it till I passed him.

Damnit, it was too perfect.

 

 

 

 

 

I doubt I couldn't possible fail to be less unlike Nordlinger (and lileks) 

They have this slogan down in Austin: “Texas for people who hate Texas.” Must be the snottiest slogan on the planet. Well, I love Austin — and I also love Texas for people who love Texas.  -jay

I used to cling to reasons to not like Austin, then I used to mock myself for it, and lately I have grown to hate the sentiment of that bumper sticker.

Going to see Imogen Heap tonight.   Her album Speak For Yourself is very gettable. I am late to the game praising the song 'Hide and Seek', but it's definitely worth a listen.   Whoah to have discovered in it high-school so that I could sneak it on to mix tapes for girlfriends.... (I know, I didn't have girlfriends in High-school (or college! my inner heckler heckles). I would have put the whole 'nothing compares to you' crowd to shame!   (I have this memory of all the girls on the bus freshman year listening to that song in hushed reverence.. that moment made an impression on me , what can I say?)

I did have Brenda and Melissa who I would drive to school every morning, and to Mrs winners for breakfast.   I remember listening to Gish, mostly, but  Mel tells me I used to play Dwight Yoakum to to annoy Brenda.  Ahh, good times.   

I don't know it this rates, given all the ancillary weirdness in my life, but on mother's day I went to see Joann, she wasn't there so I went to see Melissa at the restaurant she works at, and I ran into Joann and My dad, who were eating there.   I caught up with Melissa again this Tuesday and she told me she works after-school at the Ron Clark Academy.  I told her he used to live in my building.     Yesterday  he was waiting in the lobby for the elevator I was in.   

Also, Melissa beat me in pool.  (that, I know, will stretch your credulity)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wow.  Invictus is boring.

This clip isn't.

 

I have to type fast....

This morning I thought I would treat myself to a nice diner breakfast before work. Unfortunately the server was the jocular type. He had a flower in his ear, zany sunglasses, called everyone  'young sir' or 'young lady', was obviously up on multiple cups of coffee, and was bantering with the rest of the staff in the kitchen.

Fine fine fine and fine. He was fine.    And if it was lunchtime, he wouldn't have ruined my meal.  I am a morning person, but they are a time of quiet introspection, and short communication.   I repeat, I love the mornings, but if I had to give my waitron a swing-thought for dealing with me, it would be 'Silent Commiseration".  If I am in such a good mood that a smile sneaks out, the swing-thought should then be "ironic commiseration".   You know, make some comment when refilling my coffee like , "things are turning around, here is some joe that was actually made today."   If you can't do irony,  treat me like a pitcher  7 innings into a no-hitter. 

Also, The Flying Biscuits' biscuits are lousy. They always have been. (This reminds me of a running joke corrie and I had.  When I expressed surprise to our server that my pancakes came with a biscuit, he said, "all or meals do, hence the name flying biscuit".  Oh.)

Anyhow, so my morning didn't go as well as I hoped.   A moment ago I checked in on Lileks, and he improved it: