You should see me at local rock shows. I stand off to the side wearing a monocle and sipping brandy while my bootblack keeps my shoes spotless. It's disgusting.

I was reminded more of THE DEPARTED. We get into this a bit in an audio segment we're posting tomorrow, but there are moments when Batman seems more like an ensemble player than the movie's hero. And yet it works.

Here's where I confess that WEEDS is a show that everyone tells me I need to start watching but I haven't watched it yet. So consider Parker exempted from above comment.

See discussion on the blog post about comments. That Nas thing is a good point. I feel like my defenses are being beaten down on this issue.

Thirded. Give HORSES another try. To like Patti Smith you have to believe that rock and roll and Rimbaud reference belong together. I don't always believe that and some of the later work doesn't strengthen that belief. But HORSES always does.

See below.

These are helpful, actually. There's talk of some improvements to the site and how the commenting system and community features work will be a big part of any improvements.

Nah. We realize that this doesn't apply to 99.5% of the people who post. It's just that the other .5% is _so_ visible.

Firsties will be tolerated up to a point.

I see a door opening for a plea to put the Reid's great late-'80s series FRANK'S PLACE out on DVD. Could somebody do that?

Can I just shame everyone into behaving? Every time we interview a woman — _every time_ — the comments get ridiculous. That it's "the Internet" is no excuse. I always like that The A.V. Club (mostly) maintains a higher level of discourse than most of the sites out there. Can we try to keep it that way?

The early-'80s were the golden age for nudity—real nudity—in PG films. Elizabeth McGovern's long topless scene in 1981's RAGTIME is probably the high-water mark.

Some more on NAPOLEON DYNAMITE
I hereby officially don't take back my review of NAPOLEON DYNAMITE. There. I said it. I've regretted past reviews, but that's not one of them. The whole exercise just felt mean and condescending to me and while I haven't revisited to see if it still feels that way, I remember my feelings…

Box Sold Separately
Because what's tasteless fake money without a box in which to hide it?

Vance
There was a lot of enthusiasm for Vance leading up to this book. Say I did want to read more Vance. Where would be a good place to start?

We're getting in better equipment. We're still new at this!

I wish I could read WATCHMEN again for the first time.

Working on it.

Download and take it with you?

No, that's the legit. The grades are both useful _and_ distracting. It's a great way to make a powerful case for something with a single letter and hopefully bring people into a review.