More on Dallas Style

And, coincidentally, it comes via GreenCine, and originally from indieWIRE:

While attending the AFI Dallas International Film Festival, Mike Jones noticed,

"Four hours north from the Whole Earthy shops that sell 'Keep Austin Weird' merchandise, an upscale Dallas thread shop displays, for twice the price, their own T-shirt: 'Keep Dallas Pretentious.'"

Dallas has quite the sense of humor! And did Patricia Marx see this shirt?

yesterday's news

Since everyone is reading the Wal-Mart article in the recent New Yorker, I thought I'd quick draw your attention to a story in the NYT Business Day section, Wal-Mart Chief Writes Off New York. To go with. I have never been able to remember who it was that told me that the business section was the best section of the paper, and to read it first, but they were right and I will always treasure this advice.

And again, Yahoo and TNY cross paths. Yahoo on Walmart.

Also Stanley Fish on How to Pick a Mystery. He says to read the first sentence. More good advice.

Dancing About Architecture

I'm all for it.

But there are, it would seem, at least 2 documentary films currently in circulation about Klimt and the twists of fate and history that befell the portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer. You remember Schjeldahl's essay. And my strange fantasy.

Anyway, the films are Klimt ou le Testament d'Adèle, by Michel Vuillermet, and Stealing Klimt, by Jane Chablani, and you can read more info about the films through the links in the GreenCine Daily review. But I have to say, the descriptions there don't make me want to see the films. It may be the author's interest in the story, but it sounds like both of the films are all history, no art.

Is this so, and if so, why?

brilliant commentary on the style issue

Or, Notes on Marx from the Park Cities People Blog.

First, the initial response.

Then, a double take. Includes the following, "And lookie there! Bingo. Right on! Woo!" You'll want to read these, even if you skipped most of Patricia Marx, "Dressin' Texas" in the March 19 issue.

Park Cities, it would seem, is a well-to-do suburb in Dallas.

something glossier

pullquote read Anthony Lane, on too beautiful. Which made me think of Marie Menken, also on the mind of Chutry Experiment.

Emdashes and Madame Librarian read Dana Goodyear on The Poetry Foundation. Emdashes followed up on some sort of poetry controversy I haven't followed.

Which begs the question, just what have I been up to?

I've been reading Vanity Fair, actually.

Michael Wolff, on Scooter Libby, has a kind of theory about Democrats, Republicans and phone etiquette.

Robert Baer profiles the CEO of death and destruction. But it's more than that. The profile is a kind of excuse for the research, which is sort of backwards from TNY where sometimes interesting stories seem to turn, suddenly, into profiles.

David Margolick on the bravest generals, the critical ones.

And I liked the photos of Mandy Moore. Don't believe me? Check them out, they are interesting. She looks a little like Sophia Loren. Not bad. Photos are available only in the paper magazine.

I also liked Leibovitz's cover photo of The Sopranos. I watched my second ever episode of that show and all I have to say is that I hate, hate, hate the lighting. Of the television show. The lighting of the photos is brilliant, in a dark murky way, which is, oddly, the very opposite of brilliant. Again, you'll have to flip through the paper magazine.

the pittsburgh of the east

The aroma was distracting, you'd say compelling. 'Come on,' said the Professor, whose condition, over the preceeding year, had progressed from simple tropism to advanced pizzamania, 'let's perhaps grab a slice, what do you say?' (Against the Day, 232)

We're moving to New Haven in June.

I've been a regular visitor to that city - Aaron Whyte-Reiss used to live there - and in recent years I've come think that it's true, it is "a city not unlike Pittsburgh in that it is studded with a large university, old money, failing 19th century industries and a thriving grass roots arts scene." Quote from Pittsburgh Dish, who would know.

But the pizza is way, way, better. I'm excited.

you listen here

MP3 readings of assorted New Yorker articles, 1993-2005 or thereabouts. I'm having some sound-related technical difficulties - and I'm too busy to futz - so I can't listen to these myself right now. But let me know what you think.