March 18, 2008

Obama’s speech

So people have asked me to say something on Obama.  Got something longer coming later, but this must be said.

His speech on race today was one of the boldest and audacious things I’ve ever heard.  And while bold and audacious, it was strategically flawless, an exhibit in rhetorical technique.  He spoke to everyone firmly, never backed down on anything, but established common ground with just about everyone.  It was breathtaking.

And it showed something my father mentioned today–Obama has the most sophisticated understanding of race that any political candidate has ever displayed, and he does so in a way that’s easily digestible.

This was the best speech I’ve ever heard live.

But you know what?  He was saying things I agreed with.  I was moved to see that someone is finally treating race as the significant thing it is, something to small to be flipped as a card and too big to be ignored.  It must be discussed bluntly, and it must be discussed with no pretenses.  The discussion requires honesty and backbone, the gumption to be right but the security to admit you’re wrong.  Obama’s speech showed me those things.

The question, of course, is who else cares.  Preaching to the choir when talking to me.  I wonder what was heard by the people that cringe at any mention of race.

If I’ve learned anything working in the media, it’s as follows–and this is something Mike Freeman told me the other day–when discussing race, people hear what they want to hear, not what you say.

I just hope some people wanted to hear something real.

March 17, 2008

VH1 comes through again…

Now, if you’ve already had your 15 minutes of fame with a not-so-good but undeniably raunchy and catchy club song, it’s it unfair to enter a reality show trying to get a “break?”  That’s like winning two contests at the radio station in the same day.

Welcome back, Khia.

March 12, 2008

Small World

So I’m sitting here watching some hoops and trying not to think too much when one of those insurance commercials describing a small town.  You know, one of those places where everyone knows the plumber’s name and everything looks all quaint.

Then I heard the town name.  Let it be known that town didn’t look so quaint back in ‘02 when I was getting pulled over for no damn reason.  Man pulled me over for violating the “three second rule” that people talk about in driver’s ed.  Granted, the law noticed this while handling another stop.

Then came the car search.  Then the questions about why my car was full of stuff, even though I told them I was moving.  Then the questions about my PlayStation 2.  Then there was when the man pretended to mistake sugar for cocaine, which is like confusing a kitten and a coffee table because both happen to be brown.

Then the cop explaining that they’ve got to do a certain number of stops each night.  Heh.

So yeah, those cute little towns you see in those sorts of commercials?  Some of ‘em ain’t quite as cute as they’d have you believe.

March 12, 2008

Who wants a lesson in irony?

So Saturday, I figure I may as well have some fun with Carolina-Duke.  Unlike most, I didn’t think it was wrong to be fanatical about the game in the wake of Eve Carson’s death.  It’s a basketball game, an excuse to act silly and channel whatever emotion you have into a petty obsession with the success of one team or the failure of another.  In fact, my take on rivalries from 2007…

Is this new rule petty of Duke? Of course. But pettiness is all good when it comes to this rivalry. Rivalries should not be friendly. They should be full of arrogance, insecurity, profanity, provincial disdain, and outright contempt (things Carolina-Duke is loaded with). Good sense and fairness should apply only to the refs when it comes to this game. Respect for the opposition is noble and is the foundation of Carolina-Duke, but it’s not so important that it should interfere with the pleasure of being petty on game day, whether you’re calling in to talk radio or checking IDs at K-ville.

That’s what it is, man.  (BTW, one of my proudest moments was finding out a kid at Carolina quoted that graf on his Facebook page.  Don’t know why that was so cool to me.)

Now, let’s move forward to Saturday.  I kinda put it out there that I’m not a big Duke fan.  I quoted a line I had in a piece about J.J. Redick two years ago.

If Duke played the Ku Klux Klan, I’d root for a 0-0 tie.

The word for the day, ladies and gentlemen, is hyperbole.  High-per-bo-lee.  Said a few other things, too.  I honestly don’t remember what they were.

Somebody at least paid close attention, cuz a handful of Dukies aren’t too thrilled.  Such is their right, and I probably went a litle farther in the name of fun than I should have.  No problem admitting that.  That sounds entirely plausible.

That said, I just have to say this.  If you’re going to question my intelligence or my producer Shannon’s, please do so in a way that doesn’t make me spit up laughing.  Go as hard in the paint as you like–so long as you don’t commit any offensive fouls, if you get my drift–but get off a good shot.

Check this thread on the Duke Basketball Report.  It’s pretty fascinating, especially if you speak code.  Go to the second page.  The first post reads as follows…

Marginally literate at best….. You should hear his (mental midget) show producer(and want a be co-host) Shannon(formerly known as Intern Shannon). Coulder not utter an intelligent sentence if his life depended on it. Just call them dumb and dumber.

Not that this counts for too much, but Shannon and I have a couple of bachelor’s and three master’s degrees between us.  There’s someone out there that might be able to vouch for our collective ability to read.  At the very least, we could pull middle linebacker Wonderlic scores.

But for kicks, I decided to put the word “coulder” in the spell check.  A big ol’ red line popped up.

Know why?  Because “coulder” is not a word.

You went hard, sir.  Then you had to go off and trip and bust your ass in front of all those people.  That’s gotta suck.

March 10, 2008

The Wire–Episode 60

I think I’ve watched the finale about 7 times in the last week and change.  The first time I watched it, I was blown away.  After a few more watchings to pick up nuance, that opinion isn’t changed.  It wasn’t a stirring, suspense-filled finale, but that’s not what the show’s ever given.  The endings have never been particularly unpredictable.  The fun was in seeing just how we got there, the expositions of the conflicts underlying all the decisions, all that fun stuff.  This was a finale built in that mold, and it was great TV.

So forget just recapping everything.  Let’s just go through and list the winners and losers.  Because, in the end, The Wire is all about the winners and losers.  I feel comfortable saying you’ll notice a pattern.

Rawls - Winner.  Absolute winner.  Good things happen when you’re concerned with little more than playing the game.  That also puts you in a position to know which of those rare moments an underling has when he can flip the game.

Daniels - Loser.  And you know what?  It’s his own damn fault.  He somehow thought that he could play the game all the way to the top and then change it, as if the game isn’t designed to prevent that.  Also funny–the dope boys know to launder their money, but a cop doesn’t.  Fool.

Pearlman - Winner.  Because she’s no longer wiht Jimmy McNulty.  Just keep it real.

Levy - Winner.  He cut that deal, and now his leak is no longer a concern.  That’s all gone away.  He’s the king once more.

Herc - Winner.  And for his presence on earth–even a fictional presence–we’re all losers.

Slim Charles - Winner.  Actually, let’s broaden that….

Slim Charles and the rest of America - WINNER!!!  I stood up in my house and clapped when Slim laid Cheese out.  I’ve been waiting all season for that.  The best part?  That scene was largely unnecessary.  The only reason for it was because David Simon knew we wanted to see Melvin Wagstaff get killed.  THank you, Simon.  And thank that little dude with the classic line, “this sentimental muthafucka cost us money.”

Marlo - Winner.  Yes, Marlo’s a big winner.  He got out the game with a golden parachute–kept his money, stayed out of jail, $10 million for the connect, and he’s out the game.  It was like he just got disbarred and sold his practice.  So what if he’s got nothing outside the game?  What did he really have in it?  Now, he can actually spend his money…assuming he has any idea what to get.

Chris - Loser.  Something to think about…you ever noticed the intimation that Wee-Bay and Cutty were snuggly in the joint?  Cutty referred to Bay as his “cut buddy.”  Hey man, I know what that meant when I was in college.  Well, Wee-Bay and Chris are hanging and…well, I’m just saying.  And Chris loses because of that whole life, no parole thing.

Michael - Loser.  Sad part?  The kid’s been losing his whole life in every way.  New Omar?  No, he’s a kid like Omar.  No way he makes it to live as long as Omar did.  Look at it that way, and he loses.

The Greeks - Winners.  Again.  Just posted up where they always were, and nobody gives a damn.  See-why-see-ell-eye-see-ay-ll.  Cyclical.

Freamon - Winner.  Know why?  Cuz he was always gonna be OK without the job.  Remember what he told Jimmy in season three.  Said he needed a life.  “A life, Jimmy.  Know what that is?  It’s the shit that happens while you’re waiting on moments that’ll never come.”  Lester was good without it.  He had his miniatures and his scripper.  What else is there, really?

McNulty - Winner.  That’s right.  The job was taking him to the grave, man.  See how much less drinking he did once he knew he was done for?  That’s victory.

Bubbles - WINNER!!!!  Finally let him in the house!

Gus - Loser.  Ugh, the copy desk?  Could someone in the writing game explain how foul that was?

Templeton - Winner.  Boo.

Kima - Who Cares?  Snitch.

Dukie - Loser.  Dude, he went straight to fiend status fast.  That was a classic fiend speech if I’ve ever heard one, all the way down to the convoluted story that ultimately led nowhere.  “Teacher must love yo black ass” is classic material.

Carcetti - Ugh.  I despise him.  He won governor?  Stuff like that makes me wonder if voter registration is little more than a jury duty trap.

The Game - and still Champeeeen!  Look, we all knew this.  THe winner in all of this was The Game.  The gods in these stories are the institutions, and we knew that from jump.  You thought McNulty would go down?  Noooooo….wasn’t no way to pull that off without taking everything down.

You thought Marlo’s people were gonna be spared because of tainted evidence?  How many people do you know that have gotten off because of stuff like that?  I guarantee you there are more that just never got to find out they were getting screwed.

The Game wasn’t going to lose.  Not to a reformed dirty cop or an editor or a kid that doesn’t think killing should be so arbitrary.  What we have to give Simon for this series is finding a way to do that without being whiny.  This is just how things go, folks.  Yeah, we can fight it, and we must fight it.  But don’t think for as econd this isn’t gonna be a monstrous fight.

Now the newspaper stuff?  Often whiny, yes.  Two-dimensional characters?  Yes.  But here’s the thing–the detachment of the papers from the rest of the plot was perfect.  The point was how detached the paper was from the life of the city.  None of the crucial elements of the story this season were in teh papers except, really, for the stuff that was made up.

And that’s so important because the papers, ostensibly, remain a voice of the people.  They are the ultimate check and balance for authority, really.  And when they’re looking at the wrong stuff–and doing so for the wrong reason–then what happens?

Simon attempted to show what gets reported and why.  He didn’t do a great job of that.  He did, however, do a good job of making the larger point, and the larger point was what was most important in driving Carcetti’s behaviors.  Then we got to everywhere from there, including ignored schools.

Yeah, schools.  See how we all forgot about that little problem?  That’s kinda how we forget things when they get off the front page in real life.  And if the schools slipped your mind, you have to acknowledge some of the effectiveness of the newspaper plot.  Even if it is the weakest thing Simon has given us.

I don’t wish for anything else from the story.  Am I curious?  Yeah.  But did I see everything I needed to see to wrap up that five-season narrative?  I did.

And I’m pleased.  More later, once I realize what I forgot.

March 9, 2008

Help Improve Virtual Bomaniland

Anybody know a way I can come up on a couch for the lowski?  Or, preferrably, the freeski?

March 4, 2008

The Wire–Episode 59

FYI, there’s now a category for The Wire here at Virtual Bomaniland.  I’ve never had a category before, but I thought some people might want to look over old recaps as we prepare for the finale.  I don’t know who out there is like me, but I study this here.  I like to go back and track the progress of things, see what little tidbits I can pull out.  Ultimately, it kinda ruins the suspense, but I’m more concerned with understanding and appreciating this show than being jolted by it.

Also, my fancy schmancy all-in-one remote went belly up on me, and I’m too lazy to get up and turn on the episode on the TiVo.  Soooo, I’m doing this from memory.  I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t seen the episode about five or six times.  At least.

1.  Dope on the table.  One of the best thing about Wire fanatics–we all described the press conference from the dope seizure the same way.  That was a lot of damn dope on the table.  $16 million.  And it wasn’t like that was enough dope to last until summer.  Cats is moving serious weight, jack.

2.  Lester’s the coolest.  First, that he’s still with the scripper from Season One is so interesting.  That he had Daniels fooled was just the power of Lester Freamon.  And the way he gamed Clay Davis all the way down was masterful.  In a lot of ways, this has been Lester’s season.

3.  Give Marlo this–he’s real about his.  The first glimpse of emotion from Marlo in three seasons came in jail.  And it went away right fast.  I gained back a small measure of respect for Marlo once it became clear he didn’t know Omar was calling him a bitch in the streets.  He would have stepped up.  He’s ruthless, and his respect for the game is suspect, but no one can say Marlo doesn’t carry his.  Also…

4.  …you notice how Marlo was sure he could trust all his people?  Wasn’t noooooobody snitchin on Marlo.  Haaaaaaayuuuuulllllll no.  However, I found it interesting that he could think Michael gave up info on dope deals, even though he didn’t know anything more than when the re-up was coming.  Then again, what else could have happened, far as Marlo knows?

5.  Chris is a G, also.  He’s got Mike’s back.  I do respect that.  I no longer wish he catches on fire, especially now that I’m sure he’ll never get out of jail.  Dead to rights.

6.  Let Bubbles in the house!  I know he robbed her blind before, but it’s been more than a year.  Let him get a plate!  But goodness, anyone that doesn’t love Bubs doesn’t love life.  And now, finally, he’s getting right.  That’s worth a trip to the dinner table.

7.  Mike, Mike, Mike.  Peeping game from the backseat of a car?  Straight Omar.  “You look good, girl.”  Possibly the best non-Omar or Clay line in the last two seasons.  The kid’s an absolutely fascinating character.  And seeing him drop his brother off in the county broke my heart.  That was the most emotional scene since Wallace.

8.  But Dukie walking down the alley to become a junkie was just as bad.  All because he had nowhere else to go.  The game, man.  The game.  But yo, what’s up with the fiend rolling down the street with a horse?  That’s how they do in Baltimore?  I’m from TEXAS, and we don’t even do that.  TEXAS, I said.  TEXAS!

9.  Boooooo Kima.  Yeah, she had to follow her conscience.  But she really went off and messed everything up, with no eye to the greater good reached in the end.  Kinda simple, really.  Then again, simple has its plusses.

10.  Herc.  You moron.  Came this close to putting himself in.  Then again, Levy wouldn’t care if he did.  Levy just wants his paper, and doing that helped him get quite a bit.

11.  Gus is headed down.  The writing’s so clear, even though your man Templeton’s so obviously dirty.  Time to go ahead and say it.

12.  The newspaper storyline is the worst Simon has given us.  Why?  Because it’s the one he’s too deeply invested in.  What makes The Wire so fascinating is that every character is a portrait in gray.  Few are outright good, and few are outright bad.  However, there are white and black hats all through that newsroom.  That’s what has made the story less interesting.  Oh, it’s certainly done the job of explaining the relationship between government and media, but it fell short on nuance.  Perhaps this would be different if we got to see what the editors have to deal with from Chicago, like we saw Burrell have to deal with mayors.  Either way, we don’t see that.  As a result, we got something that served better as a plot device than as its own independent story.

13.  Snoop is dead.  This drink I’m having right now is purely a coincidence.  I promise.  Would have liked some Cheese with this wine, though.

14.  And now, it’s on.  The jig’s up.  Now what?

March 3, 2008

So I’m watching Jeopardy again…

…and one of the categories is “Bo”s.  Where every solution has the sound “Bo” in it.  Would you believe I’m nowhere to be found?  I mean nowhere.  Are you kidding me?  Don’t they know I host a radio show?

March 3, 2008

Public Service Announcement

If you have an Airport Express and use it to play music through your stereo system, make sure your wireless router uses WPA2, not WPA.  Use WPA and you’ll be resetting four times a day.