I've long thought Deborah Solomon was a terrible interviewer. Her short fluffy NYT Magazine interviews have a strangely aloof quality to them, as if there is a disconnect between what is asked and what is answered. As it turns out, that appears to be the case. This is ok for satirists like Colbert and the Daily Show guys, but it's not so great for the Grey Lady.

I also want to point out Phil Nugent's clear-eyed analysis of the Bush Administration's weird ethical gymnastics. It's a thing of truth and beauty.

Last, but definitely not least, the 33 1/3 blog has an excerpt from David Smay's upcoming book on Swordfishtrombones. Smay is not just a good friend and a hell of a writer; he's the guy who first gave me a break when he and Kim Cooper accepted my submissions to Lost In The Grooves. This excerpt excites me quite a bit. I think it's going to be a hell of a great book, and I'm looking forward to seeing any parallels between his work and my own.

Great New Yorker article about David Simon, the genius behind "The Wire". It's long but absolutely necessary for fans.

"I'm not trashing your book. I'm trashing your philosophy of life."

This may be the best Jon Stewart interview yet. Watch him deconstruct Chris Matthews.

Who has time to maintain a blog? Not me!

I just wanted to pop in and mention that my friend Phil Freeman has an excellent opinion piece in today's LA Times on the continued viability of the album as a coherent artwork. But he says it better. He'd almost have to.

Geneva Elise Barrett Childs


Born 5:35 am, 8/2. 8 lbs 1 oz.

She came about ~30 seconds after the water broke with no one in the room but a very surprised nurse (who'd just arrived), the doula, and me. The nurse was next to me, struggling to pull on her glove, cursing, maybe stressed. I was telling her to calm down, but then I looked down and saw my little girl's head, already out. I reached down and caught her as she was born into the world, and that was one of the most beautiful moments of my life.

This makes me incredibly happy. The song is Can's "Vitamin C". Krautrock for the b-boys!

Y'all remember when I used to blog regularly? Neither do I.

Lots has happened in the last... month? Really? Damn, it's been a while.

Most of these guys who I memed below have done that thing that I asked them to do. Sorry for the vagueness, but it's easy to forget what the hell I'm talking about.

The Bush Admin has completely gone off the deep end with the Scooter Libby pardons, man-sized safes, repeal of desegregation laws, that sort of thing. But you know all that.

Most importantly, our baby is imminent! She's head-down and low (and I say "she" knowing full well that she could be a he) and could show up, like, any minute now. We have carseats at the ready.

What we don't have yet is a crib. That's gotta happen.

Our son's new room is almost done. I've spent the last month painting and building IKEA furniture (thanks, Scott & Kathy, for your contributions to that effort!) and turning the garage into a guest bedroom/study/storage area (before, it was just a junk room, basically).

I'm sure I have more to gas on about, but I've got too much to do right now. Next post could be notice about the birth, so check back periodically (so I say to all none of you who read this stupid blog).