It's been a few years since I've read it, but my main argument was that the latter half DIDN'T tie things up in any kind of satisfactory manner. To me, it just devolved into a lot of incoherent dream logic nonsense. I don't doubt that I probably missed stuff, but it just left me really frustrated.

Totally agree. In fact, I thought the rest of the book really suffered in comparison. Would you consider Wind-Up to be emblematic of Murakami as a writer? It's the only one of his I've read. I really liked the first half of the book but found the second half to be beyond frustrating (except for the aforementioned…

How is Bernard Cornwell as a writer? I keep seeing on the book jackets that he's a great writer of battle scenes, but what about the rest of the story? I'm skeptical of anyone as ridiculously prolific as he is. If you've read any Patrick O'Brian, how does he stack up? I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that O'Brian…

House of Chains - you are about to be introduced to the most compelling character in the series by a wide margin. Those books are so, so strange.

I thought Boiler Room was a poor man's Glengarry Glen Ross.

Starting Treason's Harbour today. O'Brian has skyrocketed into becoming one of my favorite authors. This series is amazing.

SOA was by far the worst ever show that I watched in its entirety.

I like that movie mostly because it has the good sense to kill off Steven Seagal in its first 20 minutes.

The second Emporium is in Logan Square. I don't think they have any arcade games at that one. It focuses on pinball, pool tables, air hockey, and bar shuffleboard. I actually prefer that one. From what I understand, they are trying to open another location somewhere out west (LA maybe?). Headquarters also has two…

AV Club did this great interview with a 2nd Unit Director last year: http://www.avclub.com/artic…

Thanks! Did not know this was a RtJ cut.

Does anybody know what El-P song plays in the trailer?

this should have more likes

That's really good to know actually. I really dug his stuff from the L.I.E.S. compilation. Did not know he was also in Zombi.

You know those exploding heads that are like.. TWO exploding heads?

Hot tip: The Hold Steady are playing a few shows this fall (including Riot Fest in Chicago! Yay!) performing Boys & Girls in America in full, and most importantly, Franz is playing with them.

Fun fact: I won tickets to see Inter Arma a couple weeks ago and then didn't go, because I'm spoiled with too many great concerts. I'll be regretting that one.

nevermind!

I didn't see it, but what about that Vin Diesel movie where he's hunting witches with Rose Leslie, who at least from the trailers, appears to be bad?

She and her bro randomly popped up singing backup for Brian WIlson while he performed Pet Sounds at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago a couple weeks ago.