I've been reading you since the Deadspin days. I grew up in St. Louis but my father came from Mt. Olive, IL. Small coal mining town that has a monument to Mother Jones in the miner's cemetery. My grandfather, grandmother, grand uncles, and many other relatives are buried there. Lots of great stories from the small town on Route 66.
Two main things: Your Tarantino rankings are exactly right. I think Hateful Eight is good but it is obviously stomach-churning and bit much at times even for Quentin. I'm glad you've always championed Death Proof. Because Grind House bombed in theaters, those two films have been mostly forgotten and brushed aside. The chase in DP is one of the best real, tactile car chases in movies of the last twenty years in a mainstream film. Most importantly, Ayo better win Big Ten player of the year! Garza will win, but all know Ayo is the true King of the Heartland
Even now I hear persons say you cannot rear children in NYC or any big city. I do not think that is the case. I went to public school K through grade 12 in NYC in the 1970s and 80s when NY was not doing well. I graduated from Cornell and law school. My teachers were pretty good. More important, despite my parents speaking very little English, they pounded in my and siblings' heads education education and more education. We all are college graduates. That was the key- my parents gave a sh##, and that "aura" infected all of us.
The Hateful Eight and Death Proof were subpar. Other than that I thought the list was fine.
Yeah, I hope I didn't imply that there's something inherently wrong with schools in New York. They're great! (For one thing: They are open, unlike schools in my town.) I also think 2013 Will didn't know anything about anything. I only had one kid! And he was 16 months old!
I'm overly sensitive to discussion about rearing children in urban settings. My wife & I own a home in a middle class but not affluent section of Washington DC. When our five year old was born, two "progressive" co-workers counseled me about raising her in DC and that I should start looking for a house in Arlington, VA or some other suburban setting because it is purportedly impossible to rear an educated, well-adjusted child in DC without being wealthy - I am USDOJ lawyer - I ain't wealthy. Cornell and law school had plenty of students from the burbs. Most were fine and some were great. However, many were sheltered, narrow-minded with very little empathy for or understanding of working-class, poor and minority communities.
That stated, I think you are open-minded, intelligent and empathetic. Your children are lucky to have you as their father. I look forward to your newsletter.
I've been reading you since the Deadspin days. I grew up in St. Louis but my father came from Mt. Olive, IL. Small coal mining town that has a monument to Mother Jones in the miner's cemetery. My grandfather, grandmother, grand uncles, and many other relatives are buried there. Lots of great stories from the small town on Route 66.
Aw, thanks. Mt. Olive! Thanks for the kind words ....
I am also a fan of Uncle Tupelo/Wilco/Son Volt. Love the Wilco lyric mentions.
Two main things: Your Tarantino rankings are exactly right. I think Hateful Eight is good but it is obviously stomach-churning and bit much at times even for Quentin. I'm glad you've always championed Death Proof. Because Grind House bombed in theaters, those two films have been mostly forgotten and brushed aside. The chase in DP is one of the best real, tactile car chases in movies of the last twenty years in a mainstream film. Most importantly, Ayo better win Big Ten player of the year! Garza will win, but all know Ayo is the true King of the Heartland
Death Proof just knocked me over when I saw it on Opening Night. Legitimately felt like QT doing something different and challenging himself.
Even now I hear persons say you cannot rear children in NYC or any big city. I do not think that is the case. I went to public school K through grade 12 in NYC in the 1970s and 80s when NY was not doing well. I graduated from Cornell and law school. My teachers were pretty good. More important, despite my parents speaking very little English, they pounded in my and siblings' heads education education and more education. We all are college graduates. That was the key- my parents gave a sh##, and that "aura" infected all of us.
The Hateful Eight and Death Proof were subpar. Other than that I thought the list was fine.
Yeah, I hope I didn't imply that there's something inherently wrong with schools in New York. They're great! (For one thing: They are open, unlike schools in my town.) I also think 2013 Will didn't know anything about anything. I only had one kid! And he was 16 months old!
I'm overly sensitive to discussion about rearing children in urban settings. My wife & I own a home in a middle class but not affluent section of Washington DC. When our five year old was born, two "progressive" co-workers counseled me about raising her in DC and that I should start looking for a house in Arlington, VA or some other suburban setting because it is purportedly impossible to rear an educated, well-adjusted child in DC without being wealthy - I am USDOJ lawyer - I ain't wealthy. Cornell and law school had plenty of students from the burbs. Most were fine and some were great. However, many were sheltered, narrow-minded with very little empathy for or understanding of working-class, poor and minority communities.
That stated, I think you are open-minded, intelligent and empathetic. Your children are lucky to have you as their father. I look forward to your newsletter.