Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Prediction: the gop will rethink its strategy of boycotting future committees.

It’s always darkest before the other shoe drops.

Too often we confuse noise with substance. too often we confuse setbacks with defeat.

How stupid are these people?

Jack Smith: “Why did you start campaigning in the middle of my investigation?!”

The arc of history bends toward the same old fuckery.

So it was an October Surprise A Day, like an Advent calendar but for crime.

Nothing says ‘pro-life’ like letting children go hungry.

“The defense has a certain level of trust in defendant that the government does not.”

This country desperately needs a functioning fourth estate.

Innocent people do not delay justice.

If rights aren’t universal, they are privilege, not rights.

Hot air and ill-informed banter

There is no compromise when it comes to body autonomy. You either have it or you do not.

Why is it so hard for them to condemn hate?

The next time the wall street journal editorial board speaks the truth will be the first.

This year has been the longest three days of putin’s life.

Donald Trump found guilty as fuck – May 30, 2024!

Do not shrug your shoulders and accept the normalization of untruths.

Black Jesus loves a paper trail.

A norm that restrains only one side really is not a norm – it is a trap.

Hey Washington Post, “Democracy Dies in Darkness” was supposed to be a warning, not a mission statement.

The press swings at every pitch, we don’t have to.

I might just take the rest of the day off and do even more nothing than usual.

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I think I have finally recovered from the WVU/Texas Tech. It isn’t too often you get to watch your team piss away a shot at a national championship and a Heisman in one game, so I got that going for me.

In my 42 years, I have learned that any recovery involves Perry Farrell:

I’ll also be listening to the Smashing Pumpkins, Siamese Dream, as well as some Seven Mary Three Cumbersome. I’m treating this loss like a bad breakup. Once the emo is done, I will move on to Pauls’s Boutique to lift my spirits.

The Who made millions on teenage Wasteland (***update*** Shit. I won’t even correct this and will just take my lumps). Why is there no middle-aged wasteland anthem?

Also too, fuck Craig James and Texas Tech. Seriously, Mountaineers- 49-14?

Fer fuck’s sake.

Reader Interactions

68Comments

  1. 1.

    Xecky Gilchrist

    Why is there no middle-aged wasteland anthem?

    Man, that one is just really hanging over the plate. I feel like a total simpleton not having some clever example in mind.

  2. 2.

    The Dangerman

    It isn’t too often you get to watch your team piss away a shot at a national championship and a Heisman in one game…

    Matt Barkely on Line 2.

  3. 3.

    redshirt

    I cooked breakfast for The Smashing Pumpkins, before they were famous – they were still driving their own van on a cross country tour (1991). I saw their show at Zoots on Friday night they slung them hash at Simple Simons on Saturday morning. And then they became famous. Co-incidence? Probably.

  4. 4.

    Violet

    The Who made millions on teenage Wasteland. Why is there no middle-aged wasteland anthem?

    I think it’s called “Little Red Corvette.”

  5. 5.

    Spaghetti Lee

    Hey, maybe it will be like 2007 and everyone else will lose and you’ll get back on top again. I don’t think Florida’s going undefeated and South Carolina lost. As a Mizzou and Illinois fan, I have NO SUCH WORRIES!

  6. 6.

    Short Bus Bully

    John, your taste in music is always inspiring. Go Mountain Song and Ocean Size before you’re done tonight, you’ll be better for it.

  8. 8.

    Comrade Luke

    Jeter: broken ankle, out three months.

    Over/under on number of times the media refers to him as The Captain? I’ll go with a million.

  12. 12.

    Warren

    Middle-aged wasteland: it’s in the CDs marked “Guided By Voices.” Enjoy.

    As a Texas Tech Red Raider (class of ’91), I apologize, but look at it this way: those poor fucks have to live in Lubbock. Let them have this.

  14. 14.

    Spaghetti Lee

    As for middle-aged wastelands, I once heard someone describe What’s Love Got To Do With It as such, although I’m skeptical.

  18. 18.

    The Dangerman

    @Comrade Luke:

    Jeter: broken ankle, out three months.

    I wonder if he had a hairline fracture from a couple nights ago (batted ball off same foot). Video tonight didn’t look like enough to snap his ankle unless his spikes caught in some freak manner (didn’t see it in the video).

  19. 19.

    GregB

    Political Wire has two new polls. Both good news for the good guys.

    Up in Arizona and Ohio.

    Link.

    Title for Middle Age Wasteland:

    Bubba O’Reilly.

  22. 22.

    Gwiwer

    I suppose there is no middle-aged wasteland anthem because people just aren’t inclined psychologically to be angsty and nihilistic at that point in their life. I mean, when you’re a teen, you think you’re going to live forever and nothing will ever change, so you have the luxury of feeling a little cynical and nihilistic about things. By the time you’ve hit your 40’s, most people have already become acutely aware that they’re not immortal and time isn’t on their side. It’s a little hard to feel nihilistic and cynical when you wake up every morning realizing that you’re only a couple decades or so away from the adult-diaper, 7 pills before noon, can barely remember your own name stage of life. Granted, that realization probably would leave some people feeling even more cynical, but I imagine most people are just happy they have all of their hair, aren’t yet going too gray, and haven’t had to experience a major health problem of their own yet.

  23. 23.

    Cain

    John – May I suggest Porcupine Tree? Of course, not sure how you feel about prog rock, but Steven Wilson kicks ass.

    Anesthetize After the guitar solo, it really starts really starts to rock.

    Sound of Muzak

    Just about any song on Deadwing and “In Absentia” kick ass. I like their older stuff but it’s more of a “space rock” style.

  25. 25.

    Death Panel Truck

    Pete Townshend did write a middle-age wasteland song.

    It’s called “However Much I Booze,” from The Who By Numbers.

    “But however much I booze/There ain’t no way out!”

  26. 26.

    Old Dan and Little Ann

    Seeing Mariano Rivera crumpled in pain on the field earlier this year and now Jeter tonight. This after blowing 3 bases loaded opportunities and a crazy 9th inning comeback. Fuck!

  31. 31.

    Suffern ACE

    @Death Panel Truck: There’s a whole genre of country music about either hitting rock bottom or just swimming above it. The reason though that there aren’t more middle-aged wasteland songs is that adults kind of know better specifically what is troubling them.

  33. 33.

    Death Panel Truck

    @Suffern ACE: The lyrics of “However Much I Booze” indicate to me that there’s an angst in Townshend’s soul that he really doesn’t understand.

  34. 34.

    stannate

    I’d say that West Virginia’s performance today was like the next track off of this album, particularly with regards to the line about slapping yourself in the face. But as mentioned earlier, you could be a fan of Missouri–a team that can’t beat Vanderbilt–so there’s always someone else worse off.

  37. 37.

    Cain

    I’m staying out of the middle age wasteland.. although I did dive into Rush which I guess is even older than middle age wasteland? :-) But then again they are still putting new albums which are relatively fresh.

    Still looking for some new music. :-) I like some of Opeth’s later stuff, minus the death metal.

  39. 39.

    James E. Powell

    When your middle-aged, if you’re doing it even close to right, you know you can’t comfort your angst by declaring to be a wasteland, a nothing. It’s filled with stuff, and you, and people and things you like.

    Middle-age is more like this or this.

    And if that’s a bit much, just start with the first album Steve Earle did after he got out of jail. Then move forward one at a time.

  42. 42.

    Honus

    @stannate: It’s not like the team has any connection to west Virginia other than the uniforms. I don’t think there’s a single west Virginia native on the roster, and the coaches and AD are all Texans.
    As for Craig James, this:
    He finished a distant fourth with about 4% of the vote. Public Policy Polling found during the race that “as Craig James has become better known he’s just gotten more and more unpopular.”

  43. 43.

    Emdee

    It isn’t too often you get to watch your team piss away a shot at a national championship and a Heisman in one game

    Welcome to the Big 12. It happens about twice every three years in this conference.

  44. 44.

    Legalize

    Middle-aged wasteland would be “Losing My Edge” by LCD Soundsystem. Said song also happens to be the best song ever recorded.

  46. 46.

    jomike

    @stannate:

    you could be a fan of Missouri—a team that can’t beat Vanderbilt—so there’s always someone else worse off.

    Isn’t it cute how Mizzou and A&M actually thought they would be competitive in the SEC?

    And speaking of teams that’re worse off than yours, how about Auburn? Losing to Arkansas is one thing, but getting blown out in the fourth quarter by Ole Miss is just plain embarrassing. Tommy Tuberville must be grinning so hard his face is gonna break.

  48. 48.

    Gogiggs

    For middle-aged wasteland listen to Pulp’s “This is Hardcore”, then take your pick. Heck, there’s even a song with the lyric “I’m not Jesus, but I have the same initials” that you can pretend was just for you.

  49. 49.

    wasabi gasp

    Paul Motian Band – Goodbye Pork Pie Hat

    I’ve posted this link before. I just got a notification that the album it’s from is available for $1 from an amazon seller. Two ninety eight shipping. Figured I’d throw it out there. Feel weird about putting a direct link, but it should be easy enough to find.

  51. 51.

    Charlie Dodgson

    Middle-aged wasteland seems like half of Springsteen’s output; the most anthemic off the top of my head is Atlantic City (leaving aside Born in the USA which is so anthemic that it makes people miss the point), but I’m probably missing something. See also: Dylan, “When the Night Comes Falling from the Sky”, “Idiot Wind”, or “Up to Me” and “Tangled Up in Blue” for quieter takes.

  53. 53.

    Nicole

    “Losing My Religion.” I was young when the song came out and it made me feel old. I don’t mean that in a negative way.

  54. 54.

    wasabi gasp

    @wasabi gasp: Same seller has a shitload of albums marked down to $1(+sh) including the Pavement album I posted earlier in this thread. I picked up 9 CDs for around forty bucks, so far. If you’re a CD buyer with something on your mind, today might be a good day to give amazon a peek.

  56. 56.

    Lojasmo

    “Dancing for Money” by Talking heads is a pretty good middle age wasteland song. Nobody’s ever heard it, though.

  57. 57.

    The Red Pen

    Seeing Smashing Pumpkins live on Thursday. Then flying to DC for a wedding. Hopefully I will also be celebrating a resurgent Obama campaign.

  58. 58.

    chrome agnomen

    middle age wasteland? jethro tull– ‘fat man’

    people would say that i was just good fun…

  60. 60.

    Roy G.

    The new Pumpkins album Oceania is excellent. If Billy Corrigan can rock it like he used to, so can you, Cole.

  61. 61.

    gbear

    Why is there no middle-aged wasteland anthem?

    ‘Mother’s Little Helper’ by the Rolling Fucking Stones in 1965.

    ‘Is That All There Is? by Peggy Lee.

    The Kinks Are The Villiage Green Preservation Society’ album and 50% of the songs Ray Davies was writing in the late 60’s.

  62. 62.

    Jamie

    @Gwiwer:

    I suppose there is no middle-aged wasteland anthem because people just aren’t inclined psychologically to be angsty and nihilistic at that point in their life.

    Speak for yer fecken self. Staring at 40, unemployed and currently sitting in a hospital bed (it was serious, but I’ll be fine, at least until I get the bill), I am basically nothing but angst and nihilism.

    Sorry to be a downer. The music selections are basically what I grew up on.

  65. 65.

    KXB

    Hell man, you want middle-aged anthem, I go with Billy Strayhorn’s masterpiece (Johnny Hartman’s version) “Lush Life”

    romance is mush
    stifling those who strive
    I’ll live a lush life in some small dive
    and there I’ll be, while I rot with the rest
    of those whose lives are lonely too

  66. 66.

    nitpicker

    As a Kansas State fan, I was rooting for WVU, because the last thing I wanted was to face a pissed off team on their home turf next weekend. Still, should be a great game and we’re making the trek to Morgantown.

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