October 5, 2007

Allow Me to Vent

It’s this simple–after paying for a television that, quite frankly, is the most important thing in my life that doesn’t have a heartbeat, I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO GO TO A BAR TO WATCH TEXAS/OKLAHOMA.  AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DO SO BECAUSE THE LOCAL AFFILIATE WILL BE SHOWING THE FLORIDA STATE-NC STATE GRUDGE MATCH.

I’m madder than James Brown was when that dude got down with his woman.  That ain’t right.

October 5, 2007

Catching up…

Business…here’s my list of reasons why Stephen Jackson is a great choice as a team captain.

So, I figure since I haven’t been blogging as much recently, I should update you on a few major goings on at Bomaniland.

Got a date?  Nope.  Moving on…

What do you think about the college football season?  As entertaining as any I can remember.

What’s the best movie you saw recently?  Watched “The Last King of Scotland” on DVD with my fiancee.  Great movie, and an incredible performance from Forest Whitaker.

How deep into “The Wire” withdrawal?  Oh goodness.

I’ve been intermittently watching episodes from Season 4 (yeah, I got that there).  Not even in order.  Just going to scenes I wanted to see and watching them, then somehow going through three episodes.

I’ve tried to engage almost anyone I could in speculation on what’ll happen in Season 5 (which I believe will hit the air in January).  Hit me on e-mail if you’ve got theories.  I won’t spoil any plot stuff on the site until my fiancee sees Season 4.

I’ve downloaded the songs in the season ending montages of Seasons 2-4 (each of which sounds great in 5.1).

I’ve been helping a friend watch the episodes, just so I’d have someone new to discuss this stuff with.

I’ve realized what a great character Bodie Broadus is.

I’ve realized that I’d be in good shape if I grew up to be like Lester Freamon (perhaps because my fiancee always takes the time to mention that he’s a “nice looking man”).

I’m listening to Solomon Burke’s “Fast Train” as we speak.

I’m thinking, as we speak, of how I can write about the season when it comes around (and I think I know how to do it).

I might be looking forward to “The Wire” premiere moreso than I’m anticipating Christmas.

October 3, 2007

Another Great Moment in the History of Foolishness

Business…here’s this morning’s Jump.

Now seriously, folks…why did someone think this would fly?  As a Texan, I can tell you that no one could see a reference to “Wet Backs” and not think that maybe, just maybe, there’s a different way to go about selling those air conditioned seats.  No excuses allowed.  That’s up there with the folks in Claremont, CA that burned a cross and said they didn’t realize the significance of the action.

October 1, 2007

Clarence

Business…here’s Monday’s Jump.

Watched Clarence Thomas’ interview on “60 Minutes” last night.  I found it to be pretty interesting.  It’s hard to tell how sincere he was being, but no one has less reason to be insincere than a Supreme Court justice.  Foe Life!

It was interesting to hear him say how frustrated he is by racism, how he was a radical back in the day, and all that fun stuff.  Of course, it’s interesting since those facts would seem to indicate a certain level of nationalism.  Clarence Thomas, however, has no nationalist sensibilities.  Not a single one.

He doesn’t see himself as a black man.  That one’s interesting.  Really, that’s how things should be.  We should be able to see ourselves as people, without chromatic modifiers preceding that.  But the truth is, we can’t.  We are black.  If we weren’t made lack by the invention of an absurd social construct, we wouldn’t have the problems we have not just trying to make it from one day to the next.  So Clarence, see yourself as you’d like, but you better be honest about this.  You’re black.  You have your job because you’re black (c’mon Clarence, there have been two black justices on the court, and one replaced the other, and there probably won’t be another until your time on the bench is up).  That’s what it is.

The lack of nationalism struck me, though, because I found it to be so cold and dispassionate.  It didn’t sound like Clarence was cold and dispassionate.  He seemed to be pretty fiery inside.  But when it comes to black people, he’s totally disinterested.  He hates racism, but he doesn’t give a damn about its fellow victims.  He could care less.  He thinks, somehow, that he has transcended race.

But if it were that easy, a lot more of us would have done it.  That time hasn’t come for you, Clarence.  It didn’t come when you latched on with John Danforth.  It didn’t come when you crippled the EEOC.  It didn’t come when you got the call from Bush the Elder.  You are one of us.

Yet, you have no concern for us.  You hate racism, but choose not to do anything about it.  You claim the Constitution should dictate the law, but that ignores that the Constitution’s practical applications, using that logic, do not fulfill its spirit.

So forgive me if I reject the notion that Clarence Thomas is a man of principle.  He’s not.  He found a way to use racism to his advantage and creative a nice life for himself.  That’s the game, I suppose.  I loathe it, but we all survive in different ways.

But don’t sit in that chair and tell me hwo much you hate racism and like to help the disadvantaged while doing little to nothing on their behalf.

But I’ll say this–I no longer think Clarence Thomas hates black people.  He just doesn’t give a damn about us.

And that’s scarier than what I thought before.