Is it a bad idea to buy a 10 CD box set of Boogie Woogie?
Well, it's a bit early to say. It certainly could be a bit much, but the evidence seems to suggest that it's probably going to be alright, especially since the set in question was only $30. Had it been more, well, then expectations and evaluations would have to occur on an entirely different level, but as it stands, it was probably not a bad idea. This is not to say, obviously, that it could be considered a good idea. At best, it might be considered a HOBBY HORSE, like Uncle Toby's, with which to fill the empty spaces of a small and cluttered apartment. There is a question which naturally flows from this one, which is: Are you going to go back to the remainder house to buy the 10 CD box of Country Boogie Woogie? I very much regret to say that this question cannot be answered at this time.

Is Robert Altman's best movie Short Cuts or Nashville?

This is the wrong question, and as such, reads very much like "When did you stop beating your wife?" The best Altman movie is without a doubt MASH. The TV show is not really good, despite legions of geriatric fans. The movie, released at the height of the descent of Vietnam, is pitch perfect and filled with the wit and wisdom of a bunch of smart asses with too much time and money. It's extremely funny, and mordantly concerned with race and gender and sex. As far as I'm concerned, and I'm sure if you take the time to think about it you'll agree, it made the careers of every actor who performed in it, although Radar is the only person who played both a movie role and a TV role. (A good gauge of where the sitcom goes wrong is that they turn Radar, who in the movie is a crafty, subtle, moderately wicked character whose drunken viewpoint illuminates the central party scene after Trapper John is made Chief Surgeon, into a Grape Nehi drinking naif.)

I'm not sure what to tell you about the long football scene at the end. Frankly, I go back and forth about it. I used to skip it entirely, but lately have come to like it for its pot-fueled Americanism and redemption of Hot Lips.

Do you floss?

No, no I don't. I'd like to, but I just can't seem to get it happening.

Why is it better to go grocery shopping on an empty stomach than to a bookstore when you have a little hole in your heart?

Because groceries are cheaper than books and are more quickly consumed.

Is Moby Dick really that good?

Yes, yes it fucking is. It's really that good. It constitutes a national literature, I mean our national literature, all by itself. There is no better American novel (and Bartelby verges on the best American short story). I'm sorry if you don't like it or if you find it boring in parts, it's still that good. I don't want to belabor the point, but here's the first paragraph:

Call me Ishmael. Some years ago--never mind how long precisely--having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world. It is a way I have of driving off the spleen and regulating the circulation. Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people's hats off--then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can. This is my substitute for pistol and ball. With a philosophical flourish Cato throws himself upon his sword; I quietly take to the ship. There is nothing surprising in this. If they but knew it, almost all men in their degree, some time or other, cherish very nearly the same feelings towards the ocean with me.

Fucking brilliant. It's more than a little bit creepy that Moby Dick and Bartelby, which both are about America and what it is to be American, are so intimately concerned with suicide. I'd be happy to discuss it further.

The Beatles or The Rolling Stones?

The Stones.

Gene Wolfe reminds me a lot of Melville.

*raises hand*

Will this all be on the test?

; >

Oyouwise.

*shuffles off to read Moby Dick*

To be honest, I hated Moby Dick.
(and I was a lit major, too)

Any book with a chapter titled, "The Crotch" can't be all bad.

Is Robert Altman's best movie Short Cuts or Nashville?

The best Altman movie is without a doubt MASH.

McCabe and Mrs. Miller constitutes a significant doubt. Now then: is his worst Brewster McCloud or Ready to Wear?

Is Moby Dick really that good?

I read Pierre recently and enjoyed it immensely, but I can't remember a thing about Moby Dick at this point.

Worst is Ready to Wear, Brewster McCloud is at least strange. The Long Goodbye is also excellent.

Ditto, kellydamnit. I loved Bartleby. But Moby Dick? I'd prefer not to.

My boss and I quote Bartleby to each other all the time. It's the patron saint of publishing short stories.

And I love Moby Dick. Of course the rolling stones. McCabe and Mrs. Miller. Get out of my head, all of you.

I still love Brewster Mc- and yeah seriously flawed. but all his movies are flawed.

Whole heartedly agree about the flossing.