(no subject)

A couple of things I've been digging lately. These would make good Christmas presents for someone who is like me but is not me.

• Freaks and Geeks. The mix of comedy and pathos in this short-lived series about uncool high school kids in the early 80s is unbearable and wonderful. Also, the commentary tracks, featuring just about everyone who was ever involved with the show, are great, not least for the pride they all obviously feel in the series.
  
  
• The New Biographical Dictionary of Film. Disguised as a reference work, this is a thousand pages of David Thomson's opinions about movies and the people who've made them. For the last month I've been dipping in at random, reading about someone's career, then provoked to read about someone they worked with, and someone they remind me of, and the next entry on the page, and the page after that....

blurb

Tin Cat will be playing in Palo Alto as part of a big holiday event on Friday. Santa Claus, roasted chestnuts, live music at various locations, the whole thing. The piece I'm most sorry I'll miss is "a unique show of vintage silent holiday movies accompanied by live music" at Jungle Digital. Anyway, we'll be on the patio at Borders from 6 to 7. Here's a little more info.

Later that night, but not much later, Altamont Pass will play in Campbell at Orchard Valley Coffee. There will, as far as I know, be no Santa Claus. Cameron de Palma will be playing an opening set at 7 while I race down Interstate 280 from the other gig. We'll probably finish around 9.