December 2008
List Of Things That I Did In 2008
Served as an usher in a good friend’s wedding
Visited ballparks in Boston and Pittsburgh
Went to Yankee and Shea for the last time
Lost about 45 pounds
Got much better at my job
Did improv once
Started drinking coffee black
Started wearing shirts and ties more
Saw R.E.M. and Modest Mouse in the rain
Saw the Hold Steady and the Drive By Truckers indoors
Saw “Hair” in...
“I was just doing some research for tomorrow, and I thought you might want to...”
– Nick
2008 In Review: Music
The following tracklist accompanies a mix CD that I made for a few friends and sent out with my Christmas cards this year. They’re probably my favorite songs of the year that has all but passed…
“Pieces Of What,” MGMT.
“Home,” David Byrne and Brian Eno.
“New York,” Cat Power.
“Grapevine Fires,” Death Cab For Cutie.
“Hollow...
Philosophically Yours This Christmas
Tomorrow morning is Christmas.
I haven’t asked for anything in particular, to be honest. I haven’t made a list for jolly old Saint Nick to check twice, and while I’d like to think that I’d fall under his “nice” category this year, I’d be okay with falling under “naughty.” Six in one, half-dozen the other.
The best Christmas presents I can...
WatchAnd if that isn’t a true blue miracle, I don’t know what one is.
2008 In Review: Television
My Favorite Show Of 2008: How I Met Your Mother
I’m not much of a television watcher.
Okay, that’s a lie. I watch loads of television. But I’m honestly not much of a television-by-appointment type of person. There are very few shows that I make sure that I take the time to watch. If you’d asked me earlier in the year what those shows were, I’d have said something...
From The Department Of I-Pod Accountability
Submitted for your approval, the spending of a $15 I-Tunes Gift Card broke down like this:
“Date With Ikea” (John Peel Session) - Pavement
“Glasgow Love Theme” - Craig Armstrong
“The Loving” - XTC
“Next To The Last Romantic” - Josh Ritter
“No One Here” - The 88s
“I Like You” - Morrissey
“Always Love” - Nada...
Random Thought
Hey, do you think Bristol (daughter of Sarah) Palin is upset that Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz have laid claim to the name “Bronx Mowgli” for their child?
I have visions of Bristol and her baby-daddy, Levi Johnston, sitting down together and opening up PerezHilton.com, and seeing this revelation and being all:
“They named him Bronx? Damn. Cross that off.”
“Wait,...
2008 In Review: Movies
My Favorite Movie Of 2008: Wall-E
I have to admit that I’m a sucker for all things Pixar. On a Sunday morning about six or so months back, I found myself captivated by a documentary on Starz! called “The Pixar Story,” which told of the rise of this company from a computer-graphics house to the artistically advanced storytelling giant the place has become. For my birthday in...
Juan Gonzalez of the NY Daily News on Caroline... →
The U.S. Senate is not the British House of Lords. Family pedigree and connections are not what counts. The Senate is not for on-the-job training or affirmative action programs for the privileged, no matter how well-intentioned. It is a body that must make enormously important decisions every day of the year.
This sudden rush to turn one of New York’s two Senate seats over to a political...
Phish at MSG, December 30, 1997. →
Not a huge Phish fan but I went to this show. I’m debating whether to pick this up as an artifact.
I CAN'T STOP READING THIS ARTICLE →
Well, this is awesome.
robhuebel:
2008 NY TIMES YEAR IN IDEAS
Rickey Henderson Stories →
In 1996, Henderson’s first season with San Diego, he boarded the team bus and was looking for a seat. Steve Finley said, “You have tenure, sit wherever you want.” Henderson looked at Finley and said, “Ten years? Ricky’s been playing at least 16, 17 years.”
A Dunford reference in "The Onion" →
Yes, I’m responsible for this one as well. This makes 3.
Franklin Leonard and "The Black List" →
I used to work with this guy. Small world.
A Great Story →
Involving Jeff Tweedy, T.J. Jagodowski, a cover of the Daniel Johnston song “True Love Will Find You In The End,” the Second City, and a marriage proposal.
The 6 Songs I'm Almost Ashamed To Have On My I-Pod
I strive for indie rock credibility, but I will cop to having some “guilty pleasures.” The following are songs that would actually appear on my I-Pod were you to scroll through my playlists.
“Crazy For You,” Madonna
“The Glory Of Love (Love Theme From “Karate Kid Part II”),” Peter Cetera
“LoveStoned,” Justin Timberlake
“Father...
“Oh, I’m still living At the old...
“People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you...”
– Mother Theresa
via so many other blogs
The Onion: The Supreme Court Overturns Bush V.... →
Awesome.
WatchMcHale’s mocking of the Kardashians? Awesome.
skeetonmischa:
Joel McHale on “Late Night With Conan O’Brien”
Anytime somebody references Beyond Thunderome, it’s automatically a great talk show appearance.
“Religion is far more of a choice than homosexuality.”
– Jon Stewart (via charlietodd)
Tonight, You Belong To Me →
from “The Jerk”
16 Things
My cousin Elizabeth tagged me with this meme on Facebook, and while I was immediately skeptical, I was so happy with how this list came out, I thought I’d post it over here.
Rules: Once you’ve been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 16 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose sixteen people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. Other...
“When I forget how to talk, I sing.”
– Wilco (“She’s A Jar”)
Little bit of Ella Fitzgerald for a grey Saturday...
Watchanthonyking:
samreich:
Stop Carlos Mencia, directed by me, produced by CHTV. If you don’t Digg this, it will break my heart.
Special thanks to all of the comedians who were brave enough to step up and support this cause: (in order) Jordan Carlos, the Whitest Kids, Dave Hill, Anthony King, Victor Varnado, Seth Hertzog, Reggie Watts, and my own Dutch West.
"I'm Really Going To Miss Systematically... →
An “Onion” exclusive.
Ozzie's Coffee, Park Slope.
Killing time on the internet at a coffee shop in Park Slope.
The coffee is delicious. One of the bestest things I’ve done this year has been to start drinking coffee black - I can actually taste it now! Different blends of coffee taste differently! Who knew?
That being said, I’m the only dude in here who doesn’t look like a member of an indie-rock band.
Which is a shame,...
“We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to...”
– T.S. Eliot
(via katespencer)
“Look up.
What do you see?
All of you and all of me.
Florescent and...”
– R.E.M., “E-Bow The Letter.”
WatchIsaac Brock of Modest Mouse with Broken Social Scene, “The World At Large.”