On The Ten Worst Augusts of the Last Ten Years
What do you mean, "wait for it, Arianna Huffington"? 37 million Californians not only know that her run for governor is what launched her media career -- we also remember when she first came on the scene as the wife of a rich out-of-stater trying to buy his way into a Senate seat. The scars of the 2003 recall circus have not faded for the (huge number of) people who do not live on the east coast, thanks.
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On The Horrors And Pleasures Of The Columbia House Music Club In Six Albums
I only got the first 12 CDs before canceling, because I waited until 1999 when I was heading off to college to join, but I'm sad I can't remember exactly what I ordered! The ones I can remember are Tom Petty's Greatest Hits, Beck's Odelay (the only CD of the original 12 I still own), some Soul Coughing album because they had a song on the X-Files movie soundtrack (shhhhutup), and a Jean-Michel Jarre album they sent by mistake. My world was not rocked.
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On Classic Live Concert Screamers (And Me)
@Shreveport Heh, I was logging in to mention that, and also add that Shoreline is the target of epic amounts of rage amongst my crowd (WORST VENUE EVER). Thanks to one friend, it is now known as the Shoreline Ampi-Hater.
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On The Weird, Frictionless Politics Of 'Parks And Recreation'
As someone who regularly points out the race and gender issues in other people's favorite TV shows, books, and movies, I must say that "It's just fiction -- don't overthink it!" and "Well, I like it anyhow" are the laziest defenses around, so you have my sympathies there. If it's worth watching, it's worth analyzing, and nothing gives anyone the right to turn off their brain when it comes to social issues.
However, I disagreed with this this article mainly because I think the point is too specific. We can obviously argue all day about the veracity of P&R's politics, especially when it comes to a small and non-essential city department without a lot of responsibilities, but what I think your point actually boils down to is "Things are too easy for these characters," which I semi-agree with.
That's why I stopped watching The Office, because nothing Michael ever did had consequences for him or the business, and more importantly because Pam and Jim went from realistically star-crossed personally and professionally to a smug couple whose twee problems were always solved in 22 minutes and were fine working a shitty job as long as they had a cute baby. Things got too easy for the characters, and that makes for awful TV, especially when the show started with realistic difficulties.
I don't think P&R is quite to that point yet, but I do think April and Andy's marriage is going suspiciously well, and that despite the looming budget problems nothing has really worked out badly for any of the characters (except Jerry) in a long time. Right now I still love everyone and it's early days for the show, but I acknowledge that I will get bored if all their political problems vanish with a Harvest Festival and everyone gives in to Leslie because she's so goshdarn-cute. I think the finale set up some more trouble on the horizon, so I'm reserving judgement for now, but the possibility is there.
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On Dressing Up My Boyfriend As Marc Anthony In His Terrible Kohl's Clothes
Oh god, were you at the Rocklin Kohl's or the Roseville one? Both are filled with so much despair and blonde-highlighted ladies who drive Eddie Bauer edition Ford Expeditions with all the chrome on them. They are totally buying this shit for their awful little date-rapey teenage sons.