Minneapolis Michael

Reading the Sunday Times So You Don't Have To (Even Though You Should): 2.28.10

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 13:09:00 -0600

SUNDAY BUSINESS

6 Months, $90,000 and (Maybe) a Great Idea -Silicon Valley: where people get paid $15,000/month to work out ideas. I’d like that job. This lags toward the end, otherwise it’s fine.

Talk to Me. I’ll Turn Off My Phone - The president of the Global Health Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Tachi Yamada, on what it takes to be a great leader. Pro tip: Get off your phone, jackass.

Energy Scoreboards, Designed for the Home - Thank god there are smart people working on stuff outside of bullshit social networks. The iPad will render these products obsolete in a few months, however.

The Buried Treasure In Your TV Dial - We need more bandwidth for data due to increased mobile phone usage. The spectrum that radio currently uses is robust. No one listens to the radio anymore. Problem solved.

WEEK IN REVIEW

We Can’t Wish Away Climate Change - A must read. Al Gore is a gifted writer, exhibit A.

Six Hours of Hot Air! - Why in hell is it bad to have a President that’s professorial? Oh right, the part of America that watches Glenn Beck never went to college.

The Free-Appropriation Writer - As my generation grows up, this sort of thing (and it’s accompanying argument) will become a non-issue; this kind of shit will happen all the time. On that note, I’m going to pick up David Shields’ new book and read it this week. I can’t wait to feel elitist!

ARTS & LEISURE

The Koons Collection - What. A. Nut. I know this dude is “important” and I try to read as much as I can stomach about him, but he’s totally off his rocker. It’s also interesting to read this after the above piece about “the free-appropriation writer.”

‘Bourne’ Team Takes a Chance With Iraq War - I’m really anxious to see this new Damon/Greengrass jawn.

Drinking Blood: New Wonders Of Alice’s World - It’s the time of year when Hollywood, after a long, bleak, boring winter, wakes up and starts churning out good films.

BOOK REVIEW

Say Hey - Did you know Willie Mays played for the Minneapolis Millers in 1951? Neither did I. A beautiful review of “Willie Mays,” a book about a man who played a beautiful game.

THE FRONT PAGE

A Young and Unlikely Activist Who Got to the Tea Party Early - Trying to prove that not all Tea Partiers are extremists, the Times profiles a thirty year old woman living in Seattle who has a pierced nose, performs improv and “lives…in a neighborhood with more Mexican grocers than coffeehouses.” Nice try, NYT!

The Sexual Lives of News Anchors: Gawker Lara Logan, FTW.

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:45:00 -0600

The Sexual Lives of News Anchors: Gawker

Lara Logan, FTW.

Reading the Sunday Times So You Don't Have To (Even Though You Should): 2.21.10

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 23:16:00 -0600

Sorry this is thirty-six hours late. My parents were in town yesterday so I had to go to Jesus’ house with them in the morning; that seriously cut into my reading time.

I’ll be back next Sunday, around 11 a.m. with a new post in this series.

For the record, church is still a total drag.

SPORTS

The Neighborhood Curling Team - I actually don’t like the writing at all, but I found the passage near the end about the team members, all Minnesota natives, having made-up nicknames cool.

WEEK IN REVIEW

Now Voyager, Now Voyeur - Nick Bilton writes about Chatroulette. One of the “experts” quoted in the piece thinks Chatroulette will “spin out into a new kind of category online.” I haven’t reached the same conclusion.

The Prize In Marja: Momentum - Dexter Filkins, writing from Afghanistan, makes the case that the capture of Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban’s top military commander, is the beginning of a shift in momentum in the war-battered country. The momentum can only be sustained if Afghan forces take the lead in waging the war against the insurgents - their own countrymen; it doesn’t look promising, according to this C.J. Chivers piece.

A SECTION

Afghan Army Lags in Battle - For some reason, the battle for Marja has captured my attention unlike any other fight in recent memory. See also: the above story.

Cries for Help via Text Messages Are Used to Direct Aid to Haiti - Oh fuck, we’ve forgotten about Haiti already haven’t we? *sigh*

ARTS and LEISURE

Film: Buddies Cracking Jokes and Heads - Nice little piece about Kevin Smith’s “Cop Out” and the buddy-cop genre that dates back to “In the Heat of the Night.” (No, really!)

SUNDAY STYLES

Keeping the Plates Spinning - I know, an interesting piece in “Styles,” but this one was good! It’s a tad inside-baseball, but nonetheless interesting to see how those daily e-newsletters we all get — and delete — are produced.

Reading the Sunday Times So You Don't Have To (Even Though You Should): 2.14.10

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 11:29:00 -0600

I read the Sunday New York Times every week (except during football season, obvs); going forward, every Sunday, I’ll share the most interesting pieces I read. Enjoy.

International

Same-Sex Couple Stir Fears in Malawi of a ‘Gay Agenda’ Promoted by the West - Note the difference in titles between the print and web version. Also, this is written by one of the best working journalists, Barry Bearak.

Arts & Leisure

Truth Lies Somewhere In Between - Manola Dargis explores a new wave of documentaries that caught her attention at Sundance.
Three Mates Laughing (Well, Two Are) - Did you know Ricky Gervais has a (successful) podcast being turned into an animated HBO series?

Sunday Business

Hype, Money and Cornstarch: What It Takes to Win at Westminster - Thought “Best in Show” was a mockumentary? Think again
These Battle Lines Are Drawn in Yellow - Google is courting the lucrative mom-and-pop business market with $25/year small business listings.

Week in Review

Testing the Meaning of Victory - Read this piece as a primer, setting up why the battle in Marja, Afghanistan is important, and then read C.J. Chivers and Dexter Filkins on yesterday’s start to a long, protracted battle.
Somebody Else’s Rumor - The ombudsman on that elusive, explosive Gov. Paterson story.
Palin’s Cunning Sleight of Hand - Like I need to tell you to read Frank Rich on Sarah Palin.

wintwins: Virtual Target Field from MLB 10: The Show

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 11:44:25 -0600

wintwins:

Virtual Target Field from MLB 10: The Show

fatshawnkemp: Kirby and Bo…what a great card

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 12:44:38 -0600

fatshawnkemp:

Kirby and Bo…what a great card

(via fatshawnkemp) Eastbay Funk.

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 12:44:23 -0600

(via fatshawnkemp)

Eastbay Funk.

"My entire life I’ve tried to be a nice guy. The best I ever felt was when friends’ parents would..."

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 11:18:00 -0600

“My entire life I’ve tried to be a nice guy. The best I ever felt was when friends’ parents would say, “John can come over any time. We love that kid.” When I date a girl and find out her friends approve of me, I love it. I love being liked!”

- - Minneapolis Michael.

Just kidding; John Mayer, in this quite candid, amazing interview with Playboy, said this. I’ve only marginally understood the hate for John Mayer. Sure he has made some questionable music, but, to me, it was only because that was the only way he could do other stuff (like play jazz with Steve Jordan and Pino Palladino and have access to famous, gorgeous women). There are two things you can’t deny about him: He’s a gifted musician and he’s intelligent; if only I could say the same for 98% of the other musicians on his level.

"When it comes to flying, I am a nervous passenger but a confident drinker and Valium-swallower."

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 09:25:37 -0600

“When it comes to flying, I am a nervous passenger but a confident drinker and Valium-swallower.”

- Martin Amis. A confident drinker. I like that notion.

fatshawnkemp: kicksoncards: Air Jordan 3 Fire Red reblogging...

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:14:04 -0600

fatshawnkemp:

kicksoncards:

Air Jordan 3 Fire Red

reblogging my own blog because this picture is so good

Apart from Mike’s kicks, this is also an apt analogy for the way Barack treated the House Republicans last Friday. Barack, backing John Boehner down on the block, looking to go to the hole, sees Eric Cantor collapsing on him, so he turns toward the baseline and hits a patented Barack/MJ fadeaway. In Jordan 3’s.

The New Yorker has made available to subscribers the thirteen...

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:32:00 -0600

The New Yorker has made available to subscribers the thirteen stories J.D. Salinger had published in the magazine. Being able to read his stories in their original format is great (it would be even better if I had a pad-like device to read these on). As an added bonus, you get to see awesome old ads like this one from December, 1946.

Go buy this Phish show. 100% of proceeds from the release will...

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:46:55 -0600

Go buy this Phish show. 100% of proceeds from the release will benefit The American Red Cross and Partners in Health

“All I ask of you is one thing: please don’t be cynical. I...

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 20:01:52 -0600

“All I ask of you is one thing: please don’t be cynical. I hate cynicism- it’s my least favorite quality and it doesn’t lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you’re kind, amazing things will happen.” - Conan O’Brien

Gingers think alike.

"I believe the Vikings will win because of the running attack. The Saints give up about 150 rushing..."

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 13:53:35 -0600

“I believe the Vikings will win because of the running attack. The Saints give up about 150 rushing yards a game, and the Vikings have arguably the best running back in the game [Adrian Peterson]. … I believe the Vikings defense will frustrate Brees.”

- WEEZY!

nbaoffseason: brainworks: Picture from FAT SHAWN KEMP, via...

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 13:54:12 -0600

nbaoffseason:

brainworks:

Picture from FAT SHAWN KEMP, via SI.

Text added by my BRAIN.

Nice.

Earthquake in Haiti - The Big Picture - Boston.com

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 12:45:02 -0600

Earthquake in Haiti - The Big Picture - Boston.com

Gingers need to stick together. We’ll all be gone in 100...

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 12:29:45 -0600

Gingers need to stick together. We’ll all be gone in 100 years, so success is certainly fleeting.

"Jay Leno is a losing strategy. He is depressingly unimaginative, aggressively mediocre, and..."

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:38:39 -0600

“Jay Leno is a losing strategy. He is depressingly unimaginative, aggressively mediocre, and painfully unfunny.”

- An Open Letter to NBC About the Jay Leno/Conan O’Brien Rumors.

The Ten Best Films of 2009

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 11:00:18 -0600

“The Hurt Locker”
“Funny People”
“Fantastic Mr. Fox”
“District 9”
“Up”
“(500) Days of Summer”
“Avatar”
“Adventureland”
“Star Trek”
“Inglourious Basterds”

“The Hurt Locker” was this year’s best film, by a wide gulf. Kathryn Bigelow’s film captured what no other Iraq war film has this decade. It gave us a glimpse of what it takes to be a hero in war. It gave us a glimpse of how tense, confusing, tiring war really is. She gave us a film that left me dazzled, breathless and pissed off. A nearly perfect film.

*There are a handful of films I didn’t get a chance to see in their initial first runs, and a few films that haven’t opened in our fine city. They include: “Where the Wild Things Are”, “The Messenger”, “The White Ribbon”, “The Informant!”, “Crazy Heart”,

The Twelve Best Albums of 2009

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 10:44:45 -0600

Dirty Projectors “Bitte Orca”
Grizzly Bear “Veckatimest”
Animal Collective “Merriweather Post Pavilion”
Fanfarlo “Reservoir”
P.O.S. “Never Better”
Handsome Furs “Face Control”
Kid Cudi “Man on the Moon: The End of Day”
M. Ward “Hold Time”
Megafaun “Gather, Form and Fly”
White Rabbits “It’s Frightening”
St. Vincent “Actor”
JJ “N° 2”