I liked the return of Waylon. Made me cry.

I'm thinking about doing a High Hat article on Wild Bunch references in The Wire, but, woe is me, this might require rescreening the movie AND the series again. Actually, I tried this before, but kept forgetting about the project because the narrative is so damn engrossing.

The whole thing made me cry, and then my mother looked at me afterward like "You like this thing, right? This is the thing you called New York all the time for, and everything? I don't get it."ETA: Go ahead and write, bunk. You are the special kind of asshole the project requires. Smartmouthed Austin cocksucker.

I appreciate that, but I may be too unfocused a cocksucker to keep my interest in the article in the face of the best damn narratives ever set to film. Most of the other High Hat editors were here in Austin this weekend (inspiring hours of Guitar Hero II in my living room, and let me tell you as someone who'd never played the game before, "War Pigs" is mine!), and our conversation inevitably shifted to our favorite little moments in The Wire that no other show could possibly catch. We invented the drinking game "I am like Lester Freamon because...," which, of course, relies on your ability to impress others with quick wit and Freamon-ocity.

I can see how it would be hard to pull back enough from the story to be analytical. It's just so absorbing. Very cool topic if you could pull it off, though!

Really? You guys rule. I am like Lester Freamon because being underemployed and on a government check is like thirteen years of evidence control.But I know I've got more going than that. Which kind of makes High Hat my doll furniture, but you guys don't mind, right? I'd write it, but I feel that I missed the point with the Wild Bunch is some pivotal way and I don't want fanboys telling me I suck like Trixie after a gold strike. Because I missed the Wild Bunch love, though I can appreciate the themes and stuff...maybe I don't really speak Western.

Ed Gein: I'm not all that sure that my writing about TV is very analytical, for better or worse. I suppose "You should like this or you're probably stupid," could qualify as a *brand* of analysis. But I think not.

We generally do like a little more to our essays than that, Erika.

Anyway, I am like Lester Freamon because I know exactly how long I've been on the job. And it's time to turn out the lights and go home.

"The job ain't gonna save you."

I can't think of any way I'm like Lester Freamon. That's not good.

John from Cincinnati seems to be ready to, make sense is not the phrase I want but get less murky, maybe.

Draft-dodging peace freak, huh?