Guns 'N Roses cause guns and arrest

During the last 3 days I’ve been suffering from a sprain in my shoulder. It’s making my typing difficult to do, especially in the amounts I normally do. Considering how much I’ve written on the Democratic National Convention, I haven’t been able to do much more.

But when I saw this I had to tell you about it. Bloggers beware, the FBI are cracking down.

Now I do respect the laws of the nation, and the FBI. But they have gone way too far. It seems that Kevin Cogill, of Antiquiet, was arrested by the FBI because he put 9 songs from the upcoming Guns ‘N Roses Chinese Democracy album on his site.

The FBI arrived at dawn, reportedly en masse. They arrested Cogill with no lack of impending doom as you might expect. And the reason why is that he released the songs ahead of time, breaking copyright laws. Even though the songs had been removed by the time of arrest.

Since when is that the proper response? Since when does the FBI bother with a copyright issue? Isn’t this normally an issue that lawyers resolve with a stroke of a pen, threatening a lawsuit if the material is not removed (which it was)?

This is overkill, and a problem for bloggers of all sizes. If ABC News, or MTV, the news media, or Sirius Radio played the songs before release (which radio stations have long done) there would never be FBI closing down those companies. The DJ responsible would never be yanked of the air until they can make bail. They would never have to face criminal charges in court.

We bloggers are powerful, there is no question. I reach 119 countries each month on this blog alone. I write for about 40 blogs (when I’m in good health) each month. And I am often controversial and critical in what I write. I’m sure that I piss off various parts of the Government, politicians, entertainers and celebrities, Hollywood, athletes, countries, racists, and a host of others on a regular basis. Does that mean I should fear the police?

My posts have been usurped by other websites that I don’t write to. PrettyShady.com stole my post on Brawlin'at the Belmar - my first BMX Pro-Am dirt jumping tournament, calling me an employee. [They also have false information on their contacts – protecting them from being told to remove information] But I didn’t decide to get the FBI to arrest them for violating my copyrights. [I do not authorize the wholesale copying of my posts or content, though excepts with links and/or full credit are permissible.] But the precedent stated means that I could have done that instead of letting them know to remove the copied material or face a lawsuit.

If the FBI can arrest a blogger for releasing a song early, what is next? Arrests because you used a public photo (with credit to its source) of a politician in a negative post? Possession of a podcast or post on a laptop or cell phone means federal charges for distribution or receiving stolen goods? And how long is it before a blogger just gets arrested because they wrote something someone else did not like.

I think about it now and I suppose that the movie previews that I do might violate a copyright, in that the person that got the video clip may or may not have had permission. Does that mean I should expect the FBI at my corporate office looking to arrest me, SWAT team in tow? Just because I think Oliver Stone is a politically biased loudmouth?

This may not sound serious, but my fellow bloggers it is. Stay aware.

I just hope the bloody Guns ‘N Roses album will be worth even half this trouble. But I doubt it.

Comment about Race in America

The following is a response to my post at Black & White Blog, where I am a contributing author.

Sadie Says:
August 26th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
i dont have much to say on any race issue.. but all the time u hear about a white man callin a black man a nigger then everyone is in an uproar and the white man is seen by most as a rasist asshole but then if a black man calls that white man a honky or a cracker its ok because “we enslaved their people”… hmmm ok no one alive today enslaved “their people” and no im not saying slavery was right.. need to point that out before im called a rasist.. i just think that anytime something happens with more than one race involved it gets turned into a race issue. im tired of hearing it.. i personaly dont call black people niggers but how many black people call white people honkys or crackers? thats all i have to say i just needed to get that out.


Sadie,

Thank you for your comment.

First let me mention that I hate the N-Word. I don’t use it in my speech or in any of my posts – ever. It’s a deplorable word and I dislike its use in any format or for any reason. I do realize that your use of the word was not meant to be disrespectful. I just don’t like that word.

But to your point.

Yes, a White guy saying that to a Black man is a racist commentary. That does not immediately mean the White guy is racists as well, though it does cause reason to wonder.

A curse is used when a person is incapable of using any other term(s) that might convey the thoughts they have. The more limited the vocabulary (and therefore the intelligence) of an individual the more common the use of curses in place of an actual thought. And the purpose of a curse is to inflict rage and anger and hurt, nothing else.

In the American (and English in general to my knowledge) language there is no curse or term more derogatory, insulting, and painful than the N-word. It is defined as “the possibly single worst word in the English language”. There is no comparable or equivalent word for any other group, sex, or race. None.

So when a White uses this term they are not merely cursing the Black person, they are using the most vicious word in the language to inflict the most pain – solely on the basis of their race. Because they have no other word in their vocabulary to either win their discussion, or to express themselves. And that is key.

In the minds of those that use this word is the knowledge that this singular word is violent, degrading and painful to a specific race. That with one word they are insulting a person, their ancestors, their children, the entire race all at once. And there is no comeback, no reply that can top it or equal it.

By comparison a ‘cracker’ was a term created by the North to describe Southerners in a disparaging manner. Since at the time Whites were the only ones considered of worth the meaning only applied to Whites, but it was meant to describe a region. So you have a word created by Whites to describe Whites on a regional basis. Very similar in the manner that ‘yankee’ was used to describe Northerners, and I imagine had the South won the Civil War would hold the same meaning as cracker does today. It’s a word that is specific to a style of life in a region, and therefore has minimal impact today and is not relevant to describe all Whites.

So while your point that you have not enslaved anyone is valid, there is the difference. You may not have acted directly against African Americans, and Native American Indians for that matter, you are the direct beneficiary of those that did. There is no argument that slave labor literally built the foundations of the nation on the backs, bones and blood of millions of Africans. It was the slave labor that funded the growth and wealth of the nation. A line can be drawn from that labor to the wealth and prosperity of the nation today.

And that word relives that pain and inhumanity.

But in America, when a crime has been committed the criminal cannot benefit from that crime. A killer cannot write a book, nor have an insurance policy that pays them because of the crime they committed. And slavery is acknowledged as a vile evil criminal act.

Yet not one American has been asked to return their profits from their crimes. Ever. In fact it was not until this year that any Governmental body ever expressed remorse or an apology for what was done. And when it was done this year it was done by a voice vote, such that not a single name could be recorded either way – and only in the House of Representatives thus preventing it from becoming an official statement of the Government.

So when the N-word is used it is a reflection of an unrepentant nation, which is prosperous because of millions that were enslaved, killed and died without regard for hundreds of years, and are described as being inhuman and without worth. That’s what it means when a White says the N-word (and it only has a slightly less repugnant meaning when said by a Black to a Black).

You may not use this word against a Black person vocally, but you have no problem using the word. Because you do not see or feel the meaning of the word. I do.

And it is because of that sensitivity (or lack thereof) that you do not see why this or that action can be viewed racially (right or wrong). It’s not something that will ever affect a White person in America. It is something that does affect every person of color in America today. And I can prove it.

Pick 5 generic television stations. Watch each station for 1 hour. Mark down every time you see a non-background character that is non-White. Also mark down every White character. This includes commercials.

If you have more than 2 Asians in 5 hours I bet you were watching a kung fu marathon. If you have more than 7 Hispanics you were watching the non-generic Spanish television stations (like Telemundo). If you get more than 15 African Americans you were watching BET. And I guarantee that you will have at least 300 Whites no matter what.

[Based on 4 main characters per 1 hour show, 2 recurring characters or guests, and 3 people per commercial with 10 commercials per ½ hour – which equals 330 people/hour]

If I am right, and I am very sure I’m at least close within a couple of people, then that means that American television reflects a world where .61% of the population is Asian, 2.1% are Hispanic/Latino, and 4.5% are Black. Native Indians or any other group do not exist. [Just for the record, the actual fact is that 1 in 3 people in America are non-White.]

In effect television is saying that America is 7.2% non-White, or essentially that America is an all White nation. It means that any non-White is unimportant and does not need to be shown in any setting – whether based in reality or fantasy. And I’d bet that if you are White and reading this you never noticed or thought about this. But every person of color gets the statement being subtly made to us every hour of every day.

So I am not surprised Sadie, that you are tired about hearing something that you do not directly feel or have affect you daily. But for the rest of us, it’s not the same thing. And the only way to change this is to remind you that your take-it-for-granted view of America is wrong.

So expect that until racism and the use of the N-word ceases to happen or exist you are going to always be tired of hearing about how biased America really is.

Law And Order: Criminal Intent - Season Finale

Did you see the season finale of Law & Order: Criminal Intent last night? I did and I’m glad.

I have to admit that I have not been following the show closely for a couple of seasons. Basically once Vincent D'Onofrio started to take time off and Chris Noth joined the cast. I’m not a fan of Noth.

But when I saw the television ads for this episode I was intrigued. There was the return of Nicole Wallace (Olivia d'Abo) and the murder of those close to Det. Goren. Nicole is a wonderful foil, both in love and hating Goren. Her episodes are among the best in the series.

So I watched the season finale, and was surprised, disappointed and left with big questions.

The surprise was the intricate nature of the crimes. Each murder was part of a larger scheme, turning the entire Major Case squad against itself. Trust was destroyed, and the revelations foreboding. There was honest suspicion that Goren was the true killer. And Goren was glorious in his rage as his private demons were stripped bare.

**Spoiler**
The disappointment was the loss of Nicole as an adversary. She was malicious and deceptive in the best of ways. Her desire to hurt Goren was almost primal. Yet she could not resist him, always returning always creating a need for Goren to chase her.

Far too often serial killers are portrayed as simply sick individuals, which they are but that is too simple a description of the evil they live. Nicole is complex, intelligent, and evasive. She is more accurate a description of the crazed killers out in the real world.

Seperately she is probably the most intelligent woman on television. While the negative is that she is a killer, the positive is that intelligent women exist. She is pretty without having to be gorgeous, strong without having to be manly. She avoids the bitch stereotype so many female characters are relegated to if they have any authority.
**Spoiler end**

The big questions though are perhaps the best part. Goren is traveling a dark path. He has had major losses in little time. He is under huge financial stress. His boss lacks full faith in him. And his partner is no longer his most trusted ally.

Add to that the emergence of a nephew, and the fact of his parental lineage and you have a character that is on the razor’s edge. Goren has too much of a connection to the mindset of killers, too insightful in how to best dispatch those he might find worthy of death.

Goren is in need of a challenge. A grand mental maze to traverse. He needs to unlock and control his environment. Nicole was one outlet for such a need. Declan Gage was another.

**Spoiler**
With Declan now incarcerated, and having murdered Nicole, the truth is that Goren is free as Declan stated. Free of responsibility to family and expectations. Free of the need to keep the structure he has made of his life. Free to release his mind.

If genetics can be an indicator of murder, and if the bonds of family and friends were the boundaries of how Goren expressed himself then he has nothing to stop him now. Given his intelligence, resourcefulness and drive he could easily begin a killing spree that would be unprecedented. And he has the legal wherewithal to know how to get the easy road out with the use of his mother’s mental illness, his fathers actions, and the fall of his mentor to name a few.
**Spoiler end**

CSI has just added Laurence Fishburne, and the issue in his background is similar to Goren. I’m sure the writers were discussing the ideas over breakfast more than once. And while the ability of Fishburne to convey such a character in the character devoid background of CSI is huge, D'Onofrio has a far richer and more involved character to exploit.

In the new 8th season I expect a couple of things. I expect a serial killer to emerge. I expect that the eventual clues will target a police officer. I would guess that the first suspect will of course be Goren, but will shift to the medical examiner who betrayed his trust. Once she is dead the fingers will point to Capt. Ross (Eric Bogosian) who easily distrusts Goren after this season end. Ultimately the question will be is it Det. Alexandra Eames (Kathryn Erbe) or Goren.

My bet is that it will be Eames, under the guidance and direction of Goren. She will fall and Goren will be found to be responsible far too late, distracted by the potential of Goren’s unknown nephew. By the time anyone figures out what is happening, Capt. Ross will be dead, the mediacal examiner will be dead, Eames will be arrested by the new character Jeff Goldblum will introduce, and Goren will be wanted.

Now in the 9th season I expect a better twist. Jeff Goldblum’s character will be framed, and shown to be the real killer. Eames will be released – and possibly killed. And Goren will ultimately be the actual killer, split in personality due to his family history and the freedom granted by his former mentor.

Am I viewing this darkly? Yes. And I’m making a twisted trail that leaves no main character untouched in a story arc that spans 2 seasons. But wouldn’t that be high drama? And don’t you think Goren is capable of it?

Movie Review: Death Race

I was able to get out to the theater this weekend and went to see Death Race.

I had previously previewed the film, so I was walking into the film with relatively high hopes. This is not an Oscar worthy film; it’s an action movie and so has to be judged as such.

The film starts off with a bit of homage to Death Race 2000, starring David Carradine. It was driving me nuts throughout the film trying to place the voice, and the end credits were the only way I figured it out. Beyond that, the opening sequence gives you a pretty good idea of what to expect in the film.

That idea is a good one. The film is short on dialogue, easy on plot, and frequent with gunshots and explosions. It’s exactly what an action movie is supposed to be.

Let me stop to discuss the visuals. This is a gritty movie and the scenes match it well. Everything is dirty, and you just get a feeling of frustration and a breaking down of society. Even the daytime sunny scenes are gritty with dirt from the prison, and a body of water that is best described like the Hudson River. On a bad day. It’s a great tone.

The race scenes are filmed well, with an eye out to capture the speed of the race, yet not blurring the details. And when the film slows down to give us a bit of background everything is a bit more shaded and dark. In fact there isn’t a scene in the entire film that is cheerful or bright with the exception of the introduction of the female navigator prisoners. That lasts about 10 seconds. But the ladies do look good.

But there is a bad spot in the film. Just before the big race the camera goes to a steady-cam shot. It is anything but steady. It’s shaky, with bad angles, and distracting. The rest of the film had no scenes like this, or at least that you might notice, so the change is jarring. I imagine that this was a reshoot, separate of the main filming. Thankfully it only lasts about 1 minute.

The sound is good. The roar of the engines doesn’t overpower any of the vocals, but is a powerful background reminder that everything is happening at speed. Explosions are crisp and powerful, the big guns sharp and constant. And the crunch of another driver going down is painful, but not enough to really clue you into the violent deaths that just occurred.

Actually the race looks like it could be an excellent video game (if a designer actually took time to make it right and not just throw out something for a quick buck) which is a bit of a reversal on the theme these days.

The race is simple. One lap around the track to get speed and bump the opponents. On the 2nd lap electronic devices are turned on that activate weapons and defenses on the cars, all a driver needs to do is drive over such a spot before another driver. And there is a 3rd device that activates kill traps. Basically spikes pop up from the ground to impale an unlucky car, and retract with the pieces ensuring a kill. Honestly any person that’s driven a racing game in the past 15 years will understand the concept.

There are 3 laps to a race. 1 race a day for 3 days. Qualifying for the next race is as simple as surviving the race. The winner is the first to cross the finish line in the third race, usually also meaning that you are the only driver left alive.

The rules are only this, win 5 races (the winner of the 3 days) and you get to go free. In 7 years of races no one has won.

**Ok here come the spoilers – you are warned.**

Jensen Ames (Jason Statham) was framed for the murder of his wife, so he could replace a popular driver who wears a mask and is called Frankenstein. Frank as he is called has won 4 races and needs one more to win. Ames (Statham), in the mask, only needs to win once and he can go free – reclaiming his infant son from a court appointed family.

Adding to his motivation is the fact he recognizes the criminal that killed his wife, the white supremacist scum that picks a fight with him when he enters the prison. The aryan uses the false charges of killing a woman to ensure that no other prisoner will help out Ames – with full knowledge that this is a lie.

Of course the warden (Joan Allen), a ball busting woman with an eye to profits, has no intention of letting our man go free. Either he can chose to lose, win and elect to stay for further races, or she will kill him on the track and substitute another racer as Frankenstein in the mask. And she has no problem with the fact she organized the frame that got Statham convicted.

None of the other racers are allowed to know who Frankenstein is, except the pit crew and navigator. Anyone that tells the secret is killed, so there are no loose lips.

As the film progresses, and the number of drivers drops, Ames becomes aware of the plot to kill him. He comes up with a plot to escape based on a weakness in the prison that has been overlooked. To do so he needs the help of the key driver looking to kill him, or actually Frankenstein. Prior to that he does kill the white supremacist purposefully (getting out the car and walking over to the guy to snap his neck as he begs for his life)… and no one missed the character I’m sure.

The escape makes sense, and works – though the timing of a train being in the area, and so close to the prison is a bit silly. And of course at the end our hero gets the girl. He also may have acquired a gay male companion.

Perhaps one of the most interesting things in the film is Tyrese Gibson as Machine Gun Joe. This chatracter is constantly referred to as being gay. He is the only driver with a male navigator (actually several as he keeps killing them if actual racing doesn’t). It’s clear that he is not a nice person, but his actual sexuality – and the crime he was convicted of – are never revealed.

Now I find it interesting because the film goes a long way to convince us that he is someone to cheer. He wants out of the corrupt prison, he’s murderous and volitale. He severely hates Frankenstein, whom he does not know was replaced.

Yet by the end of the film he has not only escaped, he is with Ames and seemingly on friendly terms.

I also think it’s a brave move for Tyrese. His persona in most films and rap back up an image of a tough bad ass. Yet in this film the question of his sexuality is prominent. That would generally be seen as a negative to his career, and a difficult sell to Black women. Actually the thought of gay African Americans is so taboo that I can’t recall any film that touches on the subject besides the Crying Game – though that is a British film and seen differently here. So he gets a mention for the choice of this character, not that his acting is above average.

**End Spoilers**

Overall I love the film. It delivers on what it’s supposed to be. Mayhem and violence. No big statements on society or politics. No attempts at trying to be overly clever or artsy. Just simple get-your-pulse-up crashes, bangs, and booms – with just a dash of a cute girl for spice.

Movie trailers for fall 2008

Ok time for a couple of quick movie previews. The following movies will be coming out later this year, and a couple of them I will preview and/or review later. But this will give you a taste of what is to be expected.

First on the list is Max Payne. This is supposed to be the movie version of a successful video game. Yes, yet another videogame converted to a movie. Now will that mean it will be good? That’s a question as while Mark Wahlberg is in the film (and he does a decent action film – see The Big Hit) they have departed from the games storyline to give it a Constantine style theme. It seems the writers never bothered to play Max Payne, or they thought the gritty New York cop on a vendetta (and more than a few painkillers) was not intriguing enough. As long as it’s better than last years Hitman video game-to-movie flop it will be successful.



Then there is the 3rd remake of the Punisher comic book. Yes another comic book to movie attempt. This one is Punisher: War Zone. Now Marvel has been trying to get this right time and again. The prior 2 tries were so bad that they can’t even be called laughable. This one looks to be a bit grittier and darker, which sounds more like the character in the comics. Will Ray Stevenson be the man to finally bring this to life or will it be another straight to DVD bargain bin write-off for Marvel? The trailer says it will work, the history says failure. More soon.



A film that will be out shortly is Bangkok Dangerous. This is the chance for Nicholas Cage to resurrect himself from the horrible films he had out earlier this year (NEXT and Ghost Rider). It looks like this time he actually did some acting, though the character and action scenes remind me of his role in the film ConAir. A hitman looking to get revenge, and paid, can be a great idea and the setting in Bangkok won’t hurt.





Of course there is one thing that serious movie fans might want to know. This is a remake, an Americanized version of a film from 2000



Moving on to something that should keep us guessing is Eagle Eye. The premise seems fresh, so I have no idea where Hollywood came up with it. Considering the low-brow, unimaginative, boring, illogical nature of most movies these days this is a big surprise. Random people are used to act on behalf of an unknown group for an unknown reason, and the Government has a hard-on to get these average joes fast. (I wonder if the writers from USA Network’s Burn Notice were involved with this?)



Now a probable winner of a film should be the next 007 movie Quantum of Solace. The new blonde and more hands on physical James Bond (Daniel Craig) did a great job in Casino Royale. This next film looks to follow on that story directly. Bond is bitter and twisted in this film, and it’s bollocks for M or anyone else in his way. A more emotional and violent Bond film, this should keep the franchise alive and well.



Well this is a film that will certainly make money. Saw V. There really isn’t much more to say. The only trailer is very unclear, beyond the fact that someone is having a very bad day.



More reviews and trailers coming soon.

Pool shots around the world

Well I was looking around as some billiards trick shots and I ran into this French pool video. This is a great trick shot, but I have to wonder how difficult it was to practice and work out the shot.



Not to be out done the Japanese have a bit of pool finesse as well. Here is a video clip of a Japanese television show featuring a guy that really knows how to make a shot. I have to say that I was really impressed with the champagne glass shot and the best to me was the 16 ball trick shot.



Now as I’m going through these international, televised, pool events I continue to think about why the Olympics refuses to add the game to the competitions. It just doesn’t make sense.

I mean look at this next video. The table may not be regulation size, and it may not be in Las Vegas or some other fancy place, but you cannot question that he spent a long time working to be able to do each of these shots.



Yet not to be outdone are Americans.



Now please, someone, explain to me why a game with so much diversity and challenge is not in the Olympics.

Ronaldinho in 2008

With fall approaching and the start of the 2009 season getting closer by the day I thought it was a good time to take a look at Ronaldinho (Ronaldo de Assis Moreira) in 2008. There is no question that I think he is one of the greatest players, and is at the top of the sport currently. So I present a few video clips of him in action this year.



For those wondering what are his best goals, I also found this video. I like the number 1 kick from 2006. Falling backwards and in! That is talent.



And let us finish with a bit more from 2008



One thing is for sure, Ac Milan and Ronaldinho will make the 2009 season exciting.

New Olympic sport - Pool

On Monday I was out with a friend after my pool league tournament to get something to eat, and noticed the Olympics on the television. At the time the trampoline competition was on. And it got me wondering. The question was why is pool not part of the Olympic Games?

Now for a bit of disclosure I should mention that I am in 2 pool leagues. I play 8-ball and 9-ball in the APA (American Poolplayers Association) for the Central New York area. I have been playing pool for over 3 decades on and off; and if I must say so myself, I’m quite good. So I have a somewhat biased opinion.

But the question is valid I think. I mean the Olympics have international competitions, as does pool. There are amateur and professional versions of the game. It requires skill, discipline, and the ability to handle pressure. It is a game that millions watch via television and in person. Even better is the fact that the game is incredibly old. While its origin is unknown it is known that it entered America about 1565 via Spain.

Now the Olympics has competitions as fun and interesting as cycling – where competitors race around in a oval, fencing – which just everyone is involved in, Greco wrestling – which outside of high school ahs been completely replaced by the WWE, cross country skiing – which is drama itself to watch, volleyball – which draws viewers for the people in skimpy clothes no doubt and is as widely played as Greco wrestling, and the aforementioned trampoline gymnastics – which virtually anyone can do in their backyard. I won’t even get into synchronized swimming.

The fact is that the Olympics are mostly boring. While a race like event is interesting, most of the other events are boring as hell. Just be thankful that Cricket – a game that can take days to play one match – was discontinued. There are multiple events that people watch just because of the skimpy clothes of the athletes. And there are far more no one watches at all. Then there are the competitions that are based on judges’ opinions, which every Olympics caused cries of bias and cheating.

Pool is very simple to understand. It’s obvious who wins. The rules are simple to understand. And there is no lack of people or countries that play the game. Look in your town or city right now. I virtually guarantee that you are no more than 30 minutes from a pool hall in over 50% of the world. No other Olympic sport can boast such popularity or familiarity by the world populace. A kid in England plays the same game as a kid in Tampa, as in Taiwan, as Minsk. Heck, multiple movies have been made about the sport or involving it, I think the Olympics have 1 maybe 2.

But what are the Olympics thinking of adding instead of pool? Rugby. Now that is popular, in nations that England once ruled, but it has nowhere near the fan-base. And the rules are not known or understood just by watching a game.

How about Squash? I bet if I went down the street in 100 cities around the world I might find 10 random people that either know the rules and/or have watched a game. I doubt that I can find better than 5 people in those same cities combined that have watched the game.

Are they kidding? There over 5 million people that play pool in the Philippines alone. Just this past weekend a friend of mine went to the APA Las Vegas national competition (his team barely succeeded in beating mine for the trip) where the first Japanese APA team was invited to play as well. And from what I was told they were good.

Honestly, I am unaware of a single reason why pool is not an Olympic sport. There is nothing that compares to it in the list of sports being considered currently. It is more popular than ½ the current events. It’s honest. It’s fast. It’s just about the only competition that men and women can compete in together (actually is there an Olympic sport where they compete together?). And it can be played indoors or outside, summer or winter, day or night.

But if it would make a difference, I bet that any pool player in the world would be willing to wear a skimpy skin-tight outfit if it meant that they could win an Olympic gold medal.

Black Americans - commodity, criminals, or something much more

“Have you lost your mind? I mean, how is it that you can disrespect a man’s ethnicity when you know we've influenced nearly every facet of white America... from our music to our style of dress. Not to mention your basic imitation of our sense of cool; walk, talk, dress, mannerisms. We enrich your very existence, all the while contributing to the gross national product through our achievements in corporate America. It's these conceits that comfort me when I am faced with the ignorant, cowardly, bitter and bigoted, who *have* no talent, no guts. People like you who desecrate things they don't understand when the truth is - you should say thank you, and go on about your way. But apparently you are incapable of doing that!"
Cedric the Entertainer as Sin LaSalle in Be Cool

I just was bored earlier and ran across this scene while flipping channels. And I just had to think about that.

Now the movie Be Cool was bad. No question. But this line is perhaps the best and most important of the whole movie. It’s honest and true. It hits home, and likely was overlooked by the millions that have seen the film since its release. When most watch a comedy, bits of social commentary are obscured or disregarded.

This one quote is so visceral to me. It is such a direct statement and applies to so many things. This could be said to politicians (Democrat and Republican), Hollywood executives, major news media editors, and music industry executives, corporations of all kinds of sizes, and probably Spain and Argentina.

This quote is a statement. Being Black is not a commodity that can be bought, though more than a few retailers are making BILLIONS trying to convince people they can. Respect of our past and present is not a burden for America, and should be embraced in the same manner that I was taught European history. Police need to remember this the next time they get the urge to “get their gun on” because an African American crosses the street.

But I wonder something. I know how people of color might take this statement. Latino/Hispanics can say many of the same things. So can Asians. But how do White Americans look at this? What did this quote make you think?

This isn’t about a right or wrong answer. Obviously a blatant racist comment will be responded to in kind. But any answer made with respect and intelligence is more than welcome. Because I really would like to know if you have ever considered this when you watch the news, see a kid walking down the street, celebrate Columbus Day, or just generally go through your life?

Eureka! murders main character and love is in the air

Well when Eureka! says they will be removing a main character of the show they really don’t lie.

Long-time readers know that I am a major sci-fi fan. That does not normally translate into any desire to watch the D-grade revisioned 1950’s monster movies (or 1970’s natural disaster, or recent and far infereior remakes of current scifi flop movies) that populate the Sci-Fi channel; when it’s not pushing non-science fiction programs like wrestling or Scare Tactics. My dislike of the channel reached a peak after they abruptly ended the Farscape series, and lied to the public about the whole thing. No I still haven’t forgotten what they did.

But 3 seasons ago I gave the channel a chance with a new show called Eureka! I’ve written a bit about it, and I recommend the show. It’s humorous, not to techy, nor geeky – those those elements play into the program strongly.

Now in the beginning of season 2 they really too fans on a loop. In an almost J.R. Ewing-esque episode we got to see a future Eureka that had life going almost idealicly for most of the main characters. In fact Sheriff Carter and Dr. Blake expecting a child, Henry doing well with his love interest Kim, Zoey graduating valedictorian, Deputy Lupo romantically involved with Matt Frewer’s scientist of nature character (I can’t recall his name), and Dr. Blake’s son cured of his connection with the Entity and his autism.

By the end of that episode all the characters were reverted to a much different world, where almost all of those eventualities were impossibl