You really don’t have any other outlets for this stuff, do you? None that would really appreciate it, anyway.

Because the bitterness just shines.

… you model your comment on mine in order to exemplify my failings—the archness, the high-and-low shiftings, the display of pop snottery, etc. etc.—

Have you ever listened to Talking Heads’ Burning Down the House, the Dictionaraoke version? It’s so much better than the original. Well, that’s my opinion, anyway.

embodying them yourself but making it clear to us that what distinguishes you is you know you’re doing it,

But I can’t make up my mind whether the claymation version of “Leave Britney Alone!” is better than the original. What do you think?

which means you can do it much better.

You know what I think might be perfect for a literal treatment? The opening-credits part of The Sopranos. I watched the Bonus Content part of a DVD where the people who did it said it was just like shooting a music video. The only problem I see is whether you use the old version that still has the World Trade Center, or the one where they cut that part out. You don’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings, y’know.

Oh, I’m sorry, we’re you saying something? I wasn’t listening.

Oh, the irony, being blindsided by pop culture irony.

Take heart, though, if you really loved the lyrics to “Take on Me,” as I certainly did. You can now buy “Pipe Wrench Fight” on a t-shirt or mousepad>

I wonder when Donald Moser wrote “Story” because it sure reads like a direct borrowing from Donald Barthelme’s famous story, “Sentence” from 1970.

Next up: I’m setting out to get all those golden rings back.

“Nooooooooooo!”

[Sound of inconclusive light saber battle.]

Now that’s a topping music video! All together now…

Always look on the bri-ight side of life, dee-doo, dee-diddly-diddly-doo…