Recommendations For Better Living

Lost
Seriously, the coolest show on TV. Pure story, pure hooks, compulsively watchable. If 24 had a smarter, better-looking older brother who could totally school his little brother on the court and in life, it would be Lost.

"The Widow," by The Mars Volta, from their new release Frances the Mute
A big, howling rock song full of poetry and pain. The best thing on the radio right now. Guaranteed to change your life for the better, or you don't have a soul.

Short lunches
You get to go home half an hour early. All the fun of cheating the time clock, none of the criminal repercussions.

Gunner Palace
In theaters March 4. A documentary about the young soldiers in Iraq and their lives (and deaths) there. In a rare show of rationality, the MPAA has decided to release Gunner Palace with a PG-13 rating instead of an R, despite the fact that the film contains prominent use of the F-word. Producers lobbied for the lower rating, arguing that any young person old enough to be targeted for recruitment should be able to see what it's all about.

Soft 'n' Chewy Chips Ahoy
I am a big man, and these things are crack for me. Sweet, loving, nonjudgmental crack.

Radiohead
Dude, they never went away. Long live 1994.

Shaving at night
Saves time in the morning. Plus, motor skills being what they are early in the morning, it's not a good idea to roll right out of bed and begin rubbing your face with a sharp surface.

Books by David Sedaris
Awesome.

Arrested Development, specifically Will Arnett
So funny. Watch the show once and your interested, twice and your hooked forever. Get the DVD set of the first season, out now. Fox shortened Arrested's second (current) season from 22 to 18 episodes, so it looks like we might not be able to enjoy new episodes much longer. In related news, executives at Fox suck.

The article "the" in front of words/phrases
A commonality on the west coast when referring to highways (e.g., the 101) that only gets better when used for everyday items (e.g., "Time to watch the Lost," "I've got the stomach pains."). A small way to infuse variety into a life divided into cubes.

Thomas New York style bagels
I tried these once and never looked back. Away with you, fools with your Van De Kamp's. These are sometimes tougher to find in the store but are always worth the wait and effort.

Untucked shirt at the office
Why should they care? You show up everyday and do your work somewhere in the vicinity of the best of your abilities. The untucked shirt relaxes your mind.