"Walk the Line"

A Timeless Artist  

I don’t know what we were thinking. On Saturday night Ambular and I headed out for a 7 O’clock showing of “Walk the Line.” We drove to Har Mar first, only to be greeted by a line extending well out the door. No way we were going to wait in line, besides there is another showing 20 minutes later at the St. Anthony theater.

“All of the college student and urban-hipster regulars will be out of town for the holiday weekend,” we thought. We were wrong. The regulars were there… with parents, siblings, and cousins. We all know what it is like when you venture out with family. It takes longer, is more complicated, and is generally louder.

So our great idea was mommentarily derailed by a couple of annoying and inconsiderate large families. But we where both very excited about seeing the Man in Black on the big screen, and we were not going to be deterred. And we were not disappointed…

“Walk the Line” is one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. The style, the story, and the songs were all top-self. It is easy to understand way many have compared it to “Ray.” Both movies had a spectacular cast, which captured the soul of the artists’ stories with amazing authenticity. WTL, like Ray, gives the viewer an enjoyable ride through an iconoclastic life.

It was good enough to make me forget about standing in line for 15 minutes and all the annoying people around me.

Happy Thanksgiving

Look-out, the Turkeys are Plotting Their Revenge 

MMMMMmmmmmm pumpkin pie.

First Avenue: The Bootlegs Vol. 1

One of the Best Clubs In the Country.*  

If you like mixed CDs and the uniqueness of live recordings, you’ll like this CD. If nothing else… it serves as an abridged audio history of First Avenue. Either way, it should be in your CD collection.

CD listing on Frist Avenue's Website

* Artwork by Michael Birawer

Oh the Times, They Are a Chang'n

Vikings: Helping Favre Retire... One Sack at a Time.  

Two games, two Paul Edinger field goals as time expires, there is hope in the land of the purple once again. Few things can pump life into a dismal football season quite like sweeping your biggest rival. The Vikes move to .500 and are still in the NFC north hunt. More importantly, by beating the Pack, the Vikings have managed to salvage some hope out of a hopeless situation.

Meanwhile, the Packer fans can look on the bright side: by losing this game they have become legit contenders in the Reggie Bush lottery.

Caddy Castration?

Sincerely, The Golf Ball Nazi  

Brings a whole new meaning to "an eye for eye..."

"I Just Work Here"

Don't blame Yoo 

Professor John Yoo spoke to my War & National Security Law class yesterday. For those of you who don’t know, John Yoo was a Justice Department attorney at the time of the 9/11 attacks. He was responsible for drafting advisory memos concerning Geneva Convention applicability to Taliban fighters and Al Qaeda members. He advised the president on this narrow question: Do captured members of the Taliban and Al Qaeda deserve prisoner of war protections?

Yoo was also responsible for writing the “torture memo” that has become so very controversial lately. The quick and dirty summary: the law says that physical torture is pain inflicted that is equal to severe physical injury, like that of organ failure, and/or death. Mental torture is any threat against a family member or loved one, severe humiliation, or anything that would cause a reasonable person to lose their mind.

Considering the memo’s draconian definition of torture, it is not hard to see why so many people have had their undies in a bunch. My undies, in fact, were bunched at various times in the last couple of months. With the backdrop of administration stonewalling and the President’s general cavalier attitude, the memo appeared to be one more example of another individual in our government haphazardly kicking our civil liberties around in the name of security.

But I was waaaaay off. Professor Yoo is one of the most thoughtful and intelligent people I have ever had the privilege of hearing speak. It is clear that he only did his job. He did not have a choice, when the White House comes knocking at your office door you answer it if you want to keep your job.

Again, his job was to advise the President on the current state of the law, to interpret the law, and to apply the facts (as they were told to him) to the law. Like any attorney, he was not to pass moral judgment, just explain the applicable law to the client (the President). It was not about determining the appropriate policy, not about what was “right,” but as detective Joe Friday made famous “just the facts sir, just the facts.”

So don’t blame Professor Yoo. If you’re appalled with the state of American policy concerning the treatment of detainees, and you should be, contact your legislators – it’s their responsibility to change the law. Professor Yoo, he just called it like he saw it.

Family Guy... The Early Years

Picture day is freak'n sweet.  

Ritualistic Changes

Mental decompression chamber  

I hunt tourist style. For the last two years I’ve been lucky enough to tag along on Joe’s annual hunting trip. His dad maintains a hunter’s paradise in Minnesota’s great northwoods. He could charge hundreds of dollars for the privilege, but it is clear he doesn't do it for money. He built it for his family and friends to share.

The camp is situated on 40+ acres of heavily wooded land near Eveleth. Lots of birch grow among the various pines. The “shack” has three rooms: kitchen, den, and bunkroom. It’s more than you would expect, but like any good hunting shack it isn’t too fancy. And the best part… there is a detached sauna house. I felt guilty going to bed clean each night; you’re supposed to smell locker-room fresh after a day of hunting.

More than anything I enjoy the solitude and relaxation that deer hunting provides. When I’m out in the woods for hours at a time I can’t help but do some deep thinking. I get the opportunity to take stock and reflect about my life. It's my kind of mental therapy.

I also spent time thinking about the politics of deer hunting. Hunting interests have always been synonymous with the NRA. And the NRA has always been synonymous with the republican platform. But I foresee a paradigm shift.

It seems the NRA and the republican party are abandoning what is left of their weak conservation message. The administration and NRA have worked hard to maintain the right to own a gun, but have done little to protect and expand public hunting lands. The NRA appears to have almost ignored the issue, which is dear to hunting traditionalists. What good is a gun if you can’t use it?

Hunting licences are getting more expensive, as states look to increase revenues in the face of a slowed economy and reduced federal aid. (Neither are directly Bush's fault, but he has become the target for redirected anger.) Hunting enthusiasts, as a group, are dealing with the same class issues the country is as a whole. And Bush is losing approval from just about every cross section of the nation. The situation is ripe for dynamic political change.

* Bonus random thoughts:

+ I can’t wait to see Syrianna, the “oil movie” with George Clooney and Matt Damon.

+ Fantasy football thought of the week: I can’t believe I got beat by a guy named Samkon Gado.

+ I have mixed feelings about the idea of waking up to snow tomorrow.

It's Funny Cause It's True

Hehh, Presidenting is hard. 

St. Paul Voters Defeat George W. Bush

Whoopsie. 

It is really starting to unravel for the republicans right now. Moderate and conservative factions of the party are in-fighting. The budget bill has stalled, and some republican congress members are calling for stricter investigations of various administration actions. All this comes on top of the numerous PR disasters the republicans have gone through in the last few months.

If the St. Paul mayoral election is any indication, the public and even some republicans are beginning to sour on G.W. Bush and Co. For those who don’t know, incumbent Randy Kelly lost to former city council member Chris Coleman. This marked the first time in two decades, and the second time in fifty years, that the incumbent lost a St. Paul mayoral election.

By most accounts Mayor Kelly had done a good job. He had maintained a balanced budget in the face of decreasing state aid. He was a tireless cheerleader for the Capitol City. Kelly received praise for much of his work. So why did he lose? One reason: George W. Bush.

During the summer of 2004, Randy Kelly shocked most observers by standing on stage with G.W. and endorsing him for president. It was shocking because Kelly was and is a democrat. Many commentators thought that Kelly would stay-out of the presidential race, suggesting he would endorse Bush would have been considered pure speculation at best and laughable at worst. This is Minnesota. And St. Paul is one of the most liberal areas of the state.

It should not come as a surprise that the voters of St. Paul took the Kelly / Coleman vote as an opportunity to express their opinion of Bush. The city attempted to raise its collective middle finger toward the G.W. gang. (Kelly lost 3 to1) But what does the administration care what the voters of St. Paul think? And was this fair to Kelly, an otherwise accomplished mayor?

I really don’t think the administration even noticed Kelly lost. And Kelly definitely deserved what he got. Nobody forced him to put his arm around Bush. Maybe he thought he could earn some favors either for the city or personally. But it just doesn’t make much sense. Even local journalists are befuddled: Why?

All in all things are not looking good for republicans, as the recent St. Paul mayoral election demonstrates. And the last three months have not been kind to the administration. Whether or not the democrats can get organized and take advantage of the situation, is another question. But for now all they have to do is sit back and hand their republican colleagues a little more rope…

"Could I Have Been A Magnet For Money?"

Anyone want to give me $1999?  

Dave Matthews Band is once again abandoning their roots. They have announced plans for a 3-day, 3-night Caribbean cruise / “ultimate fan experience.”

See: Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous

When I first heard about it, I thought… “Sounds like a blast – a floating rock concert” But at a minimum ticket price of $999? Way to keep it real Dave. Pandering to your richest fans = sellout complete.

See previous post: Tues August 23, 2005 DMB’s 3-step Program"

The Rules

Oh the fun-loving Japanese, and their zany diction. Do they ever think to hire English proofreaders? 

A Pet Peeve:

There is a Subway within walking distance of my office. As far as quick lunch options go, Subway ain’t bad. It can be healthy and light or hearty and comforting depending on my needs that day. But above all, I like it because it is quick... that is unless someone decides to be inconsiderate.

When some jerk-off pulls out a list of sandwich orders at Subway, anger wells up inside me. I have to fight the urge to make a social scene. Considering I frequent this establishment 2-3 times a week, I bit my tongue.

Don't people realize how much extra time it takes to order a sandwich for someone else? Every "Sandwich Artist's" question it met with a blank stare and a long pause. It's almost as if the sandwich go-for actually tries to search the dusty-areas of their brain in an attempt to remember whether the non-present customer likes salt AND pepper, or just pepper, or no wait just salt, or neither, but maybe they want oil instead.

Seriously though, Subway is NOT the place to send a co-worker with your sandwich order. Especially when you send a co-worker who has trouble making decisions on-the-fly. There should be a TWO sandwich order limit in Subway, if it has to be more than that... PHONE IN YOUR ORDER AHEAD OF TIME.

Breathe, relax, “serenity now.”

Who Would Win? (#2)

"Whoa"  

I’ve been persuaded that John Madden would in fact beat Britney Spears on an IQ test. Fine, but he wouldn’t beat her by much. Alright time for round two.

The man the myth the legend: Neo / Ted / Keanu Reeves.

Vs.

The zany 80’s front man Huey Lewis

You have 30 minutes…and start.

I want a new brain... 

Who Would Win? (#1)

Boom! I'd whoop that little tart in an IQ test, what is an IQ test again Al?  

Last night during the Monday Night Football game Mr. Haskell and I were debating the following question: Who would score higher on a general intelligence test (like the Wonderlic or IQ)… John Madden or Britney Spears? Discuss amongst yourselves…