I tend to watch the crap first (out of some OCD desire to get it over with, as if it were homework), and leave the good stuff for later, when I have time to really pay attention.  This is why I'm always really behind on Mad Men, but fully caught up on certain shitty reality shows.  Sad, I know.

I too have Racism: A History in my archive…when will I ever be in the mood to watch that?  Probably never.  You should watch the Adam Curtis docs immediately: great stuff.

I predict that Col. Klink will discover the radio, and all the POWs will be shot.

I met David Bowie at a Pixies show.  Or more accurately, I made eye contact with him and we sorta nodded at each other.  I insist that this counts as "met him."

Stewart Lee meets Ang Lee.

I'll contribute only if I get to be the new Dougie.

Fellowship is my favorite, because I was so stoked to see that they weren't fucking around: I was worried that it would be disappointing or terrible, but clearly, they were really trying to do the LOTR films right.  (Precisely the opposite of how I felt while watching Phantom Menace.)

I was happy as a clam watching the 3+ hours of each of the first two movies, but with Return of the King, my patience wore thin fast.  Maybe the problem is in the novel, and not the film, but it seems like they ran out of story at some point.  "We're almost there…but I can't go on!…but you have to, Frodo!…oh, I miss…

Are you trying to destroy the world with the power of sarcasm?

Reminder to self: after work, dig out that Tracy Chapman tape that I've got somewhere but haven't listened to in 25 years.

Initially, the idea seemed to be that Dexter was a true psychopath, who had no feelings for other people, couldn't understand basic human emotions, etc.  That idea was pretty interesting…but later on, he increasingly became just a normal (if awkward/dorky) guy, who just happens to enjoy killing people.

Two quick comments on Fringe (involving spoilers):

1) Watched Where the Wild Things Are and Drag Me to Hell…as part of my "Movies Everyone Else Saw Three Years Ago" film festival. Both strange and good, in their own ways. I haven't read the WTWTA book since I was 6…does the film bear any relation to the book (apart from what the monsters look like)?

Perhaps Bioshock shows us that Objectivism in practice would be sweet, if you get to be Andrew Ryan, but shitty for everybody else.

As far as the McDonald's example goes, there's a difference between judging McDonald's itself (evil global corporate behavior, the food is terrible for you) and judging the people who eat there (you're white trash if you like that food). The first point of view is valid, but the latter is just snobbery…feeling good…

The stated purpose of the Rand fansite is to spread the word about Ayn Rand!  They're embracing the role of public evangelist/apologist for a particular ideology.  They want their message to be heard, obviously…and some of us, having heard that message, think that it's ridiculous.  The most ridiculous part of that AV…

In the anti-Phish article, the guy's aesthetic judgment seems to be based on little more than the juvenile desire to be one of the cool kids.  No different than a junior high bully making fun of the kid who's wearing dorky shoes.  With Hatesong, though, the point is to articulate concrete reasons why a particular song…

The argument of this piece is basically: if you put aside your prejudices (vs. dirty hippies, etc.), then you might find something of value in Phish.  Does the same apply to objectivism?  I would say no…that in fact, their philosophy is pretty evil and should be derided by all decent people.  (I'm guessing that you…

There's no way that wine is better than Pepsi!
- George Costanza

I'm sure that the next time Dave Mustaine or Ted Nugent does a nutty right-wing outburst, the AV Club will just silently pass it by…too classy for shooting fish in a barrel, right?