NIGHT FALLS

Quote of the day, from Jens Lekman, who's laid up with H1N1:

"Summer is always best through a window."

I kind of agree, and feel better soon Jens.

I WANT YOU BACK

A few months ago I mentioned Michael Jackson in passing conversation. Lana crinkled up her nose.

“Ew.”

I understood. But I was curious. What had she heard?

“He's just a weirdo.”

“Well, it's not that simple,” I said.

I called up YouTube and played her the Billie Jean video.

Lana was silent for 4:54, watching with full rapt attention. I didn't need to say anything more.

Rest in peace, Michael.

Ah, but of course, it's not that simple...

THE REAL ME

"How long are you going to hide behind that nom de blog, sliced tongue?" the good people ask.

Well, good people, herewith is a video of yours truly, wherein I endeavor to instruct you all, by dint of physical example, how to get your fucking ass down in da club.

TOUCHING BY UNDERGROUND WIRES

Have a safe trip, family.

They're only miles...

WE CAN'T EVEN THINK OF A WORD THAT RHYMES

Last day of school for the kids today, so I gathered them on Lana's floor this morning for some nice old-fashioned subversion. Furnier style...

D(U)MB

The Dave Matthews Band have a new album out, and boy howdy, it does not disappoint.

Well, fuck no-- of course I haven't heard it. I'm just referring to the singularly awful title: Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King.

“But dude,” the hemp-stained wretches would protest, “GrooGrux was the nickname of LeRoi Moore, Dave's fallen band bro. Or maybe it was just Groo. Or Grux. Whatever, dude. Wanna hackey?”

No, hemp-stained wretch-- I most certainly do not want to hackey.

Now turn that baseball cap around and throw out those ratty sandals already. You're 35 for god's sake.

We solid?

IF YOU LISTEN CLOSELY

You'd expect Olivia Newton-John's cover of John Denver's Take Me Home, Country Roads to be noxious. And by any reasonable measure it is.

But I'm sitting here listening to it right now. I actually paid 89 cents for the damn thing.

The song plays a central role in Whisper of the Heart, written by Miyazaki, and I defy you to watch the movie and be a hater without reserve.

Context is king, my friends...

LOTTO LOVE

OK, this is always funny. But it's extra funny on a Wednesday.

Definitely not safe for the work, kids...

I DON'T WANNA KNOW YOUR NAME

It's not too often that I'd like to take back a kindness.

But that clanky minivan I let cut in front of me today, the one that turned out to have the TALYO fox-hunting license plate, and a window sticker of a fox head?

I want that fucker back.

NEIGHBORHOOD

Started this week sitting in a wooden rocking chair, looking out at palm trees and feeling tiny fingers of humidity glide across my cheeks. For 5 minutes, I understood the allure of Florida.

Back in NOVA now, where it's been cold and rainy for two days straight.

Back to little obsessions as well, like that brief stretch in Wake Up (from about 1:23 to 1:27: “...colder/And I can...”) where the effects are suddenly removed from Win Butler's vocals.

I like it because it's weird and random, and I can't tell whether it is accident or design.

Kind of like my week, really...