Superman/Batman Vol. 1: Public Enemies

Since the mid 80s, Lex Luthor had been redesigned as a rich megalomaniac who would rather manipulate things through use of business savvy and politics than by putting on a ridiculous green suit of armor and punching his way to satisfaction. In the early 2000s, DC Comics even had him elected president of the United States, and the comparisons between Luthor and another dubiously elected president were unmistakable. I MEAN GEORGE W. BUSH GET IT? Anyway, in case you aren't somebody who thinks W. is analogous to a supercriminal, then you're in luck, because archconservative Jeph Loeb undid all of that in six issues and had Luthor back in his idiotic green armor and deposed as president. I guess he seriously broke the modern characterization of Luthor as a more subtle criminal and everything, but it is actually a pretty fun story if you like liking things.

RATING: 66%

Cassette Tape Memories: Island Tape One

I made this tape in the summer of 2004, and yes, I guess it's a little embarrassing that I was still making mixtapes in 2004, but my purple Pontiac Sunfire only had a tape deck, so na. I was working as a bag boy at a grocery store, and had just realized I didn't want to go to med school, but would rather get a poetry MFA (you young idiot). The conceit of this tape was songs I'd like on a desert island? I still like all of them I guess, but my desert island list would probably be mostly different now.

RATING: 68%

SIDE A:

I Wanna Be Your Dog - The Stooges
Deceptacon - Le Tigre
Judy Is A Punk - The Ramones
Atomic - Blondie
Open Season - Imperial Teen
Connection - Elastica
Egg Man - The Beastie Boys
Blur The Technicolor (Poker from Stud to Strip Mix) - White Zombie
These Eyes - The Guess Who
What's the Frequency, Kenneth? - REM
Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting - Elton John
Black Dog - Led Zeppelin
Hey Ya - Outkast

SIDE B:

Teenage Riot - Sonic Youth
Crimson and Clover - Tommy James and the Shondells
War Pigs - Black Sabbath
Patti Smith Math Scratch - Thurston Moore
Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
Holland 1945 - Neutral Milk Hotel
Down In The Park - Tubeway Army
I Am A Scientist - Guided By Voices
Freedom Of Choice - Devo
Straight to Hell - The Clash

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is an insane charismatic douchebag who should not be in charge of a country. I'm not one to bat around Bushisms like "Axis of Evil" or whatever bullshit Jesus told W, but Ahmadinejad's regular denials of the Holocaust, assassination and torture of opponents, and constant attempts to build nuclear weapons are pretty major signs that he's a dangerous asshole. That said, take a look at this interview in Newsweek, and it becomes pretty clear that they're in over their heads. It's some kind of spectacle to see this guy totally take over the interview even as they try to get in the hard questions.

PS - Sorry to any readers we have in Iran; I guess this will be the last time you can probably read us.

RATING: 9%

W.

Didn't I just live through this?

RATING: 30%