December 2010
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Dec 31st
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“My mother comes in, somewhat shyly, and says that Cinna has asked her to show...”
– Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire (2009) In this passage, in which a girl raised in poverty and oppression in a post-apocalyptic America empathizes with the wealthy citizens of the ruling city. We all know I was being cute with that “St. Ta-Nehisi” stuff, right? I liked what he said, but...
Dec 30th
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“I was talking earlier today with Kenyatta about the new Arcade Fire album, and...”
– Ta-Nehisi Coates, “‘The Very Spot Where the First Sons of Africa Were Landed’,” The Atlantic, December 9, 2010 1. TNC’s point is clear, but I feel a bit queasy about any comparison between The Suburbs and Illmatic. Not that an album about suburbia could never be...
Dec 30th
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This actually is something font designers should...
douglasmartini replied to your photo: “On a bathroom wall I wrote ‘I’d rather argue with… This person’s penmanship is rather excellent. When font designers start turning to bathroom walls for inspiration, this should be their starting point.
Dec 30th
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Dec 30th
33 notes
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“Libertarianism gets caricatured as the weird, Magic-card-collecting,...”
– Christopher Beam “The Trouble With Liberty,” New York Magazine, December 26, 2010 (Cross-posted at the USSC) Beam’s article draws the right conclusion in the end — libertarianism as a political philosophy is unrealistic and its proponents are self-defeating — but in getting there...
Dec 28th
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jakec asked: So I really liked Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, and I'm certain it's because of the reason you mentioned in your first paragraph (about being the age where I like going to shows and making out), and I saw it for the first time the day after I broke up with my first serious girlfriend and then watched it like thirty more times over the next month because we'd just moved...
Dec 28th
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Dec 28th
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Bivalves need to die.
 mizufae replied to your post: Chrismukkah in Seattle. whatevah, I LOVE crustaceans. and bivalves. and invertebrates! as long as I get to DEVOUR THEIR FLESH in the end. Now I wanna get my murder on. Look what you’ve done! You’re paying. Agreed. I’m fucking up some oysters right now. We need some ocean massacre in our lives like yesterday.
Dec 26th
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Chrismukkah in Seattle.
 mizufae replied to your post: This is a story about Christmas. Goddamn, you should’ve told me, dude. I wanted someone to do Jewish Xmas with SO BAD, and barring that, I would SO be down for murdering your oceanic dinner for you. MISSED CONNECTIONS! Oh damn, we should have done this. I’m much better at being a pussy about seafood-homicide if I have other people around. Damn, yo.  Hope you...
Dec 26th
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“She asked where he lived. “Second to the right,” said Peter,...”
– J.M. Barrie, Peter and Wendy (1911)
Dec 26th
Dec 26th
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Dec 26th
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Dec 26th
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This is a story about Christmas.
I was going to sort of not do Christmas this year because I’m a long way from home, and, whatever; who cares right? I was going to actually have fun with it and get Chinese food and have a Jewish Christmas. Then at the last minute, like after six p.m. on Christmas Eve, I realized that I’m Australian and as such it seemed deeply wrong for the 25th of December to pass without me eating...
Dec 26th
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Dec 26th
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Dec 26th
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ListenDa Muzicianz ft. Federation - Go Dumb (released...
Dec 24th
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Dec 22nd
11 notes
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Why do people keep saying this? (attn:...
Erin: I just watched Scott Pilgrim. man, that is a BOY MOVIE
me: #teamknives
Erin: of course you are
Dec 21st
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Dec 21st
2 notes
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Dec 21st
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Dec 20th
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Dec 20th
209 notes
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last impressions... →
listenedto: Australian Oz Rock Classics as Interpreted By American Song Poem Companies -          Amazing art project by Lucas Abela, that does exactly what it says on the tin. In particular, the “Nashville Song Service” versions of Cheap Wine, The Boys Light Up and Boys In Town sound like they could become US radio hits tomorrow. And should! My. God.
Dec 20th
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4 tags
Dec 20th
51 notes
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Top seven Narnia books.
I haven’t seen Dawn Treader yet because of grad school and because of the way these movies have seemed less compelling with each release. But, books! Keep in mind that it’s been a long while since I’ve read them. 1. The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe Lewis wasn’t thinking about his world-building as much here, nor was he that concerned about the theology. It was just,...
Dec 19th
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ListenTaylor Swift - Never Grow Up (Speak Now, 2010) I...
Dec 18th
6 notes
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Things America knows about America.
Americans are irredeemably polarized. There’s no real difference between the major parties. The major parties don’t represent the American people. Most Americans are moderates who dislike the partisanship in Washington. Or something like that.
Dec 18th
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Dec 14th
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“How do you know when a new pop song is a stone instant classic? […] When...”
– Molly Lambert, “The Top 100 Tracks of 2010 #4: Robyn - Dancing On My Own,” Pitchfork, December 13, 2010 Man, straight guys who “confess” they “secretly” love stuff suck.
Dec 14th
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“Part of the reason I identify so strongly with [Randy] Newman is that he...”
– Erin Aubry Kaplan, “White Man With Attitude,” Los Angeles Weekly, November 21, 2001
Dec 14th
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“As the fall semester gets under way, we must acclimate ourselves to the most...”
– James S. Lambert, “Heteronormativity Is Hot Right Now,” The Chronicle of Higher Education, September 28, 2009 [Subscription only, but the Internet doesn’t care about that] There are many things I’ve enjoyed about being in grad school, but this is not one of them. The worst...
Dec 13th
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Dec 13th
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Dec 12th
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Dec 12th
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“Here’s the thing about HIMYM: People complain about the last two years being...”
– How Grey’s Anatomy, The Office and How I Met Your Mother Got Good Again (via thisisareallybadidea) I have this thing about American television programs being needlessly set in either New York or Los Angeles; the United States is such a diverse, varied country that the continual setting of programs...
Dec 12th
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Dec 12th
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Dec 12th
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Dec 12th
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Note.
When I describe John Dwyer’s stage presence as “spit-gobbing, sweat-dripping,” I understand how much that sounds like rock crit doggerel, and I try to avoid those kinds of descriptions for just that reason. But I’m not speaking metaphorically here. On stage, Dwyer frequently deposits loogies at his feet as he plays. I notice. It’s gross. EDIT: Martin reminds me of...
Dec 11th
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Dec 11th
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Dec 11th
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“I once stole a complimentary wheelchair from a Best Buy. Actually, to clarify...”
– douglasmartini: Sarah Rose Etter, who had stolen my heart (and, apparently, other things) long before this interview. This actually has nothing to do with me.
Dec 10th
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"Let's talk for a minute about this idea: Hardcore... →
jonathanbogart: barthel: Tom Breihan, nailing it. Dude on a comic-book message board five years ago [paraphrased]: “Punk rock is modern folk music, the only music still being produced by the people, those who don’t aspire to career musicianship, who just want to get up and play and sing.” I had my doubts at the time, but as time has passed I’m more sure he was right. Folk contains blues,...
Dec 10th
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NO TRIVIA: Kanye West Week: "Devil In A New Dress" →
no-trivia: Notice how much of this song seethes with casual, snarky contempt. The kind of shit you say to someone you liked so much that you know exactly what to say to really fuck them up. There are all kinds of bitter one-liners thrown in there, that toss insults hurled his way right back (“I thought I was the asshole/I guess it’s rubbing off”) and mock the girl’s lack of culture (“that’s Dior...
Dec 7th
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Dec 7th
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ListenThe Cure - Fire in Cairo (Boys Don’t Cry,...
Dec 7th
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Dec 5th
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“And as someone who rejects the “one mistake will ruin your life” warning that is...”
– Hugo Schwyzer, “No refuge: how webcams and cell phones ratchet up the pressure to be perfect,” November 24, 2010 This is h/t a Rachel Hills post you should also read.
Dec 5th