Godspeed

If they're so head-over-heels into loss prevention, maybe they should train their check-out people to properly scan items. I got 5 cases of vinyl flooring tile for the price of 5 individual tiles this summer when they improperly keyed in the item(a 95% discount... my boy was distracting me and I didn't realize their mistake until I was at home) and a few days ago they failed to scan my 70 ct. bag of washers along with the screws I bought (saved about $2 there). These incidences both occurred at the Northridge Menard's (in NW Milwaukee).

Which Menard's was that?

The promotions on NBC made this episode look very bad, so I had rock-bottom expectations. Because of that it was more enjoyable than I expected but I still found it sub-par as a whole, although Creed's "I'm starting to think Pam isn't even pregnant" quip is an all-timer. The whole "Jim is incompetent" angle is bothering me because it's annoyingly out of character. Why would Jim just take Dwight's numbers and run with it? Is it the stress of the new job? The new baby? Is it a satirical play on how every manager is incompetent? And Ryan asking in on Dwight's diabolical scheme is embarrassing. The pay-off better be worth it.

Yes, Ron frantically protecting his strip club breakfast from the glitter bomb was a highlight for me. Another winner.

My list also comes with the caveat that I haven't seen anything in the theaters in the last 18 months. 1. No Country for Old Men 2. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind 3. Children of Men 4. Adaptation 5. I Am Trying to Break Your Heart 6. Walk the Line 7. The Departed 8. Almost Famous 9. You Can Count on Me 10. Bourne Ultimatum Dead Last: Crash EDIT: Forgot about 'You Can Count on Me', the whole reason why I made this list in the first place. Idiocracy deserves a mention, too.

It's that time of year (and decade, incidentally)... I only rank what I buy, and I only bought 11 CDs (yes, I still refuse to acknowledge the digital age, although I am slowly digitizing my collection): 1. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix 2. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion 3. Mars Volta - Octahedron 4. Yo La Tengo - Popular Songs 5. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest 6. Flaming Lips - Embryonic 7. Wilco - Wilco (The Album) 8. Air - Love 2 9. Sonic Youth - The Eternal 10. Built to Spill - There Is No Enemy Honorable mention goes to Iron & Wine - Around the Well, a compilation of rarities and b-sides that I hold as ineligible for this esteemed competition. Thoughts: I didn't get a chance to listen to the Sonic Youth & Built to Spill albums, hence they are where they are. I was really impressed with 'Merriweather Post Pavillion' when it came out and even though it was only January thought it wouldn't be topped, but 'Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix' really grew on me. Must've been that Cadillac commercial. I thought Animal Collective was a bit underwhelming live at the Riverside, but it could've just been the venue and my seat in the balcony. That may have affected my ranking, right or wrong. My 18-month-old son loves My Girls though. And as subliminally ubiquitous as the aforementioned Phoenix's 1901 was on television this year, it was Love Like a Sunset Pts 1 & 2 that sealed the deal for me. Pt 2, the coda, is killer. I was somewhat disappointed w/ 'Wilco the Album', as I felt it was a clear step down from 'Sky Blue Sky'. I thought this one tapered off near the end. They absolutely killed at the Pabst in April though. I was there day 2. 'Love 2' gets demerited for its ridiculous title and album cover, in addition to it just not being as consistently good as its predecessors. Some goofy songs in the middle, but they always have great closing tracks. This one was less so even there. More 'Talkie Walkie' than 'Moon Safari'. I found 'Veckatimest' to be beautiful in parts, but meandering as a whole. This album might have been better served being a little more terse. 12 songs is a bit much in this case. 'Octahedron' was the most straight-forward thing the Mars Volta has done, Rick Rubin producing their debut album notwithstanding. (Even that one was out there though.) Going in I thought it would be a let down as they advertised it as their "pop" album, but it's a really strong release. Still "out there", but structured and nuanced. One of their better albums. 'Embryonic' was a return to form for the Lips after the uneven 'At War With the Mystics'. It's a lot to get through, and I still haven't yet completely digested it, but I really like what they've done here. And Yo La Tengo has never, ever let me down.

Assumptions.

Another winner last night. I thought they did a good job exploring and utilizing all the characters, even if in a not-so-believable plot line. Donna firing off her shotgun just for the hell of it just slayed me as much as it terrified Jerry (and good for him not being solely utlized as the brunt of jokes for the week). As with their earlier successes, the show has been best when going away from a Leslie-centric storyline, but Amy Poehler is really starting to win me over. Yesterday had some of the best scenes with her outside of her interaction with Louis CK in prior episodes. They really need to air this after The Office so I don't need to temper my expectations for the 8pm showing.

A little taste of how Monday Night Football gets to you: No behind the scenes photos of them assembling Ron Jaworski's animatronic head?

"Need more Mullins..."

How about defense? (Although I'd rather see them both continue to develop in the minor leagues at this point.)

Just had to order my second replacement power supply for my Dell e1405 laptop. Original died 18 months in and OEM replacement goes down 12 months later. Hopefully I get my $14.41 out of the new one.

"I'm a simple man. I like pretty, dark-haired women and breakfast food. But this stock photo I bought at a framing store isn't real. Today I got the real thing. A naked Tammy made me breakfast this morning. I should have taken a picture of it." --- Ron Swanson

This last episode was perfect. Just Ron-tastic. Going from Parks & Rec @ 7:30 to The Office @ 8:00 has been a letdown more often than not this year and it's not just because the Office has been a little off its game. Tonight's achievement was epic: they made Megan Mullally funny. Simply amazing.

If it was a rights issue, why would they air it in the promos? My guess is they put the shorter one in for time issues.

I don't think last week was one of their best, but I wasn't paying complete attention.

I really like Embryonic and consider it a return to form from the mis-step that was 2006's At War With The Mystics. AWWTM was too up and down for my tastes, while Embryonic is more cohesive. Here are some others I've purchased recently (and talking music just isn't the same without pictures): http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41HAQotTZ7L._SL500_AA240_.jpg Popular Songs by Yo La Tengo is another winner from them. If you've liked what they've done in the past, go get it. Otherwise, this one ain't going to change your mind. Their output in this decade has been just amazing though. http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31b764EGLjL._SL500_AA240_.jpg I also picked up Love 2, by Air. It's a ridiculous title with a ridiculously cheesy album cover and some ridiculously cheesy sounds, but damn if these guys don't win me over every time. It's not as great as Moon Safari, or as consistent as 2007's underrated Pocket Symphony, but it holds its own. Everything French is gold. (For more proof, see Phoenix.) http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51xadZ-FL3L._SL500_AA240_.jpg Released a few months back, Octahedron was considered to by Mars Volta to be their "pop record". It's a definite detour from the sprawling and dissonantly melodic songs/jams of their prior records, but it's a move that paid off in my opinion. The songs on Octahedron are more concise for sure, but at the same time they're a bit more ambient and spacey. Since their split from ATDI, this is as close to mainstream as these guys will ever get. It's probably my favorite since their debut. http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51nmnl5bKLL._SL500_AA240_.jpg Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix by Phoenix is another one that's been out for a while. The first 5 songs are absolute perfection and even before '1901' was in every other Cadillac commercial this fall, I considered it to be the song of the summer. They were on SNL last spring and performed virtually flawless renditions of 'Lisztomania' and '1901'.

These last 2 episodes have been more emblematic of Parks & Rec's Season 2 comedic rebirth. More interplay between the supporting characters, and more importantly, more "Ron F%@#% Swanson". Louis CK needs to be in all their episodes. Even though he's just playing the comedic straight man, his character's presence seems to tone down the annoying-ness of everything Amy Poehler.

I found yesterday's Office to be a bit underwhelming, but seeing Oscar dressed up as Sarah Palin in the cold open can make up for anything. (Also Ryan saying to Creed dressed up as a campy 1950s vampire "that's not the trend in vampires right now" was gold.) http://media.avclub.com/images/articles/article/34779/NUP_136846_0066_JPG_595x325_crop_upscale_q85.jpg On the whole, I thought last night's Parks & Rec episode was better than the Office. I'm guessing most people have given up on that show like I had after season 1, but they've been the highlight of NBC's Thursday night block several times this season. Last night's was again their best show. Might be worth a second chance to some people.

Was tonight's episode aired out of order? It was the first day of school, but the kids have been in school in prior airings.

Yeah, I didn't think you'd bring it up if you didn't end up making things right. Thanks for the extra info. Two words: Brant Brown

I hate that Best Buy, it's so tiny. Bet Gadzuric looked like even more of a giant in it.

I've never been addicted or anything, but the Mountain Dew Throwback (MD w/ no HFCS) they released this summer was heavenly.

There is a Citgo across the street from a Citgo at 60th & Hampton on Milwaukee's north side. I wonder which one was there first.

I've always thought Domino's hand tossed pizzas were beyond bland, but I've found their "American Legends" pizzas to be quite tasty. Good luck to your brother.