wordsmithlind

Pakistani militants are stepping up their attacks by destroying over 160 US and NATO vehicles at two transport terminals.  The vehicles eventually would have made their way to Afghanistan to fight “the war on terror.”  The US and NATO ship supplies through Pakistan as Afghanistan is a landlocked country, now they will have to think twice.  If more of these attacks are to happen, retaliation will be eminent.  The question goes back to an earlier blog, will Bush do it alone or with Obama’s blessing?  And if he fails to do so, will Obama do it as he stated about Iran in his speech in Berlin, Europe will join the US in any more action in the war on terror?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081207/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan;_ylt=AmNvEyaoagb1KdrvSzHFCT1vaA8F

Yes, a shameless self-promotion for none other than myself, hence the “self” part in self-promotion, and since no one reads the news on Friday, what better time than now?  Recently I began writing post game stories for the Chicago Blackhawks on www.chicagosporting.com.   The stories are short and sweet and they recap the main highlights of the game.  For those who do not know, the Chicago Blackhawks are a professional hockey team from the National Hockey League (NHL).   It is a great time to be writing for Chicago Sporting about the Hawks as they are at the beginning of a renaissance and becoming a household name in the Chicago area again.  Just a few years ago they were named the worst franchise in sports, now they are in second place in the Central Division, go figure.  So, hesitate not, read away.

Everybody’s favorite pop phenom went there, oh, yes, she went there; she called the United States conservative.  Here is the daughter of a country musician calling these here United States a conservative country.  Maybe Miley’s little comment will open some minds and open some eyes about this country, the US media is failing to do that, politicians fail to do that, most other celebrities fail to do that.  How is it that this recently turned 16 year-old has the balls to say what so many others have failed to?  Could this be a turn around in American politics, American social norms, and American ideology?  Probably not, but maybe some of Miley’s fans won’t grow up to be the middle-class, suburban conservatives that their parents want them to become.

   http://omg.yahoo.com/news/miley-cyrus-wants-to-work-with-annie-leibovitz-again/15993?nc

Once again a blog I wrote on the side.  No buyers so here it is……. 

Jerry Seinfeld and Larry King got into a bit of verbal tiff on King’s show recently.  King asked Seinfeld about the end of his show, Seinfeld, by saying “You gave it up, right?  They didn’t cancel you, you cancelled them.”  Seinfeld responded in characteristic Seinfeld manner by donning a smirk and sarcastically answering back after a brief, playfully insulted pause, “You’re not aware of this?  You think I got cancelled?  Are you under the impression I got cancelled?”  A few moments later, Seinfeld hilariously asks King with his patented rising voice, “I was the number one show on television, Larry.  Do you know who I am?”

            There are moments in this brief clip where Jerry Seinfeld and Larry King both seem to be irritated by each other, but only briefly and in passing.  For Seinfeld (and Seinfeld) fans, this is a very funny clip.  Those who are in the know are aware that Seinfeld is making fun and not actually insulting King (“Can we get a resume in here for me, for Larry to go over?”) nor is Seinfeld actually insulted.  He takes King’s comments in good spirits, laughing before he says, “75 million viewers, last episode,” and both Jerry Seinfeld and Larry King are able to laugh about it.  Larry King fans may see it otherwise, but anyone who has watched Seinfeld more than a handful of times knows when, and how, to take Seinfeld serious.  A casual Seinfeld viewer may not see it this way, they may see a man who no longer in the spotlight and insulted at the discredit to his career.  This is absolutely not true.  Just look for the smirk and you know when to take Seinfeld serious.  This little squabble between Jerry Seinfeld and Larry King is nothing more than playful banter from a very funny comedian done in his most characteristic way.

Another sad stray from our political circus ‘08.  Here is another attempt at getting paid on the side.  It did not work out as planned, so here is for all to read for free……………………

In Family Guy Patriot Games, Peter becomes a star for the New England Patriots after meeting Tom Brady at his 25^th high school reunion.  Peter’s ridiculous antics spoof the many aspects of professional football (Peter repeatedly spanking a player for a job well-done, a towel fight in the shower with Tom Brady, and his terrible attempt at acting in his role in a television commercial).  The episode hits a low spot about halfway through when Peter goes into a lengthy (almost two and a half minutes) and not so funny song and dance number to put extra, unneeded emphasis on his showboating ways.  Family Guy Patriot Games gets back on course when Peter is booted from the Patriots and is traded to the hilariously named London Silly Nannies, the worst football team in all of Europe.  Peter then goes on to pump the Silly Nannies full of steroids and then challenge the New England Patriots to a grudge match.             

I found the Stewie and Brian storyline in Family Guy Patriot Games to be much funnier than the main story and it completely steals this episode.  With Stewie acting as a bookie and Brian the gambler refusing to pay, Stewie gives Brian’s life a hilarious living hell with Goodfellas style beatings, demanding “Where’s my money, man!  You got ‘til five o’clock, you hear me, you ‘til five o’clock…clean yourself up.”  I think these are some of the funniest Stewie and Brian interactions (and bloodiest) in the history of the show.  After repeated beatings, Brian finally pays up only to torture Stewie with the knowledge that revenge is inevitably on the way.

Family Guy Patriot Games is not the funniest episode ever, but it does deliver all that is expected from a Family Guy episode with its jump-cut jokes and its senseless storyline.  

A sad stray from Palin for a day, but more of her to come in the future.  I wrote this in hopes of making a couple of bucks on the side.  Naturally it didn’t work so here it is……………… 

Disney and Pixar created a gem of a movie when they created Ratatouille.  Winner of the 2008 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film of the Year, Ratatouille entertained and awed viewers of all ages with its outstanding animation, jazzy score, and its heart-warming tale of a rat and his dreams of becoming a chef.  Like all Pixar releases, Ratatouille is given the family friendly “G” rating, though some of the jokes will fly over the heads of the younger crowd.  Yet unlike the movie, the DVD focuses its attention more on adults and the parents of the youngsters who otherwise will love this film.

            The Ratatouille DVD includes the innocent alien short film Lifted, which once again people of all ages will enjoy.  Aside from this, the rest of the DVD steers the fun away from the younger crowd.  The humorous and informational PSA, Your Friend the Rat, puts Remy and Emile as hosts and narrators of a brief history lesson in the relationship between humans and rats.  Even as it is fun to look at, the content of this short is much too heavy even though it is done in a light manner.  Young children will grow bored of this, older elementary children may enjoy it, and adults will find it extremely interesting.  The actual “Bonus Features” make no attempt at attracting children, as one of the four features is a 13-minute “conversation” with the director.  The other “Bonus Features” are deleted scenes completed for the DVD release of Ratatouille.  Adults will find these interesting as the segments are filled with voice-overs and interviews explaining the scenes, but a child will not hesitate to hit the skip button.

            The overall look of the DVD is fun with animated menu screens and music from the movie.  Parents should not avoid this movie just because the DVD features are not aimed solely at children; the movie alone is worth the purchase of the Ratatouille DVD.   

This writing actually dates back to 12-27-01 after my first, and so far only, visit to Las Vegas.  The parts in italics are comments that I added to it 6-15-06.

12-27-01

            Today I met a very interesting man.  He was older 60’s, shaved head, bald.  Gold chains/rings/necklace/earring.  He came to the table I was sitting at, and said he was sitting down.  I remember he did not ask, but stated that he was going to sit down.  I didn’t mind.  If he wants to sit, let him sit.  He was eating a Whopper from BK.  For an older man, he was a very sloppy eater.  There was mayonaisse dripping down his hands.  He started up casual conversation about flights and where from’s.  After a moment of silence, he looks to the table next to us and says, “I’ve never seen so many fat people as I see out here [Las Vegas].”  He then goes into how people in Europe are not fat, they’re thin, Americans are spoiled, etc.  Here he is saying this while eating his Whopper.  I gesture towards my BK and his Whopper and say that they are too lazy to make food.  We then talk about Las Vegas and my experience with it, being my first time out here and all.  After another moment of silence, he says, “Know what makes me nervous is all these Muslim people I see around here [the airport].”  I say they are all Americans.  He then comments on their turbans and how you can hardly understand them with their “ethnic accents, even if they are Americans.”  After some more chatting about my experiences in Vegas, he says he is going to do some gambling to pass the time.  He already put a $100 bill in the machine and doubled his money.  Then he tells me how he needed that food in his stomach so that he can drink on the plane.  He also mentions that he is flying 1^st class, and for free.  As he is leaving he says, “If you get an education, don’t lose it.”  Then he walked away.

I remember writing something up about this man and how I thought he was the Devil.  Not the devil, but the actual Devil, Satan, Bezelbub, or whatever you like.  I cannot find that writing, so I know not if it even exists at this point.  I cannot remember the specifics of it, but I remember thinking that he was giving me a proposition, I could sell out (my soul) and be like him; materialistic, greedy, snide, cynical, and above all, selfish and wealthy.  Or, I could continue on my path.  I could try to become a better and better person, ignoring the materialistic ways of society, etc., etc.  After having just typed this, I am more perplexed by him now than ever before.  I no longer think he was the devil.  He was a very unhappy person though.  He had money and wealth, but no happiness.  His last line confuses me.  It seems so strange that he would say such ignorant things and then end with what he said.

In a universe long ruled by the Comics Code, Spiderman and the Incredible Hulk, in a world of big pecks, big tits, muscle hugging spandex and evil supervillains, it is amazing that Chazz, Petey and Rog can exist.  They are out of shape, normal, and rude; they drink too much, smoke too much and are slightly sexist, possibly misogynistic.  They are definitely not heroes here to save the day and most likely do not own guns.  They are your average Joes, with average (most likely below average) jobs, wrought with average problems.  They are not heroes at all. 

Comic books are one of the last mediums thought of when one thinks independent, DIY and the little guy (Kevin Smith did address this topic in Chasing Amy, but with all the fisting, that part of the story kind of receded to the background).  There are always cries against major record labels and the music industry, but people rarely think of the difficulties of entering the even more exclusive arena of comic books.  I recently came across such a book, Lost, at the recommendation of a friend.  To quote him in an email, “It’s called Lost, they wrote the script back in 2001, so fuck that island and its ongoing nonsensical ramblings.”  On that note, with the added distaste for the island, I saw no harm in giving the book a look.

Anyone that has ever grown up unsatisfied in the suburbs with its malls, big box chain stores, fast food highways and lack of things to do (unless shopping counts), can relate to the opening rant of the “loathsome protagonist…nah, too harsh…that guy,” about cell-phones, houses in the suburbs, fake people, and the aspiration for a career in writing (or any job that is not a standard 9 to 5).  Lost (book 1 of 4) centers around Chazz and his longing for love.  Chazz’s friends Petey and Rog offer him all sorts of bad advice and anecdotes to try to help him on his path to love.  The fact that it is a comic book helps the dialogue in that it allows for creative visuals to add originality to this tried topic.  Once again going back to the opening sequence, the fantastic artwork plays on the eyes as the word play plays on reader’s mind.  One of the more original bits of story telling I have seen.  

I am not sure how to comment on the actual artwork besides saying it is very good.  I have not read a comic book in over five years, so I do not know the direction that comic art has taken since then.  On that note, the artwork is very consistent, the characters rarely, if ever, stray from their look, and the overall quality of the book is impressive.  There is plenty of diversity in the size of the cells, the “camera” angles, the jump cuts, and the use of wide angle and close up “shots.”  The similarity between directing and cinematographing a movie (the choice of shots, the use of lighting, mise-en-scène, character position etc) and developing a comic book is one of the most underappreciated aspects of the whole medium.  Unlike comic strips which carry a standard format, the comic book allows for much more creativity, thus demanding more from the artist to keep the book interesting and appealing.  This is achieved.

All in all the book is well done and worth the read.  Fans of Kevin Smith will enjoy this book with its dialogue based smart-assedness and vulgar humor, and passing readers will enjoy it as well.  There might be some reservations and calls of misogyny, but remember, it is a comic book about lost twenty-somethings, they don’t know any better.

*To make your own judgments on the book, go to www.darthjayder.com

excerpt from Lost courtesy of Darth Jayder comics

Note: I was asked by another blog to rewrite my previous SaTC piece with hopes it getting on that blog which pays a nice sum per piece, but it did not, so now it is here on my proletarian blog instead…  

After a recent discussion with a female friend, I’ve come once again to question why intelligent, independent women continue to view Sex and the City as the mouthpiece of emancipation when it is so wholly the opposite:  

I see the show and the movie as nothing more than a reinforcement of cultural and gender stereotypes, only reworked from a slightly edgier perspective.  I see women characters created by men saying things that men wish to believe all women say.  I see women characters doing things that men believe all women do.  I see women dependent on men having conversations revolving around men, their lives circling the male universe; I see nothing more than urban Cinderellas and Betty Freidan choking on this bastardization of feminism.  

The women I know discuss politics, the environment, social issues and equality; the women on TV have deep conversations about shoes and designer labels.  The women I know read Judy Butler and know of The Feminine Mystique; the women on TV are never seen with a book.  The women I know have sex and relationships, but also an independent life outside of it.  The women on TV can think of nothing else.  The women I know are independent, yet at the same time seek independent representations of themselves on television.  The women I know watch Sex and the City and somehow believe the women on TV are free and liberated.  The women I know are nothing like Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte, so why do these same women want to believe they are similar to these shallow, superficial, self-centered, and male-dependent depictions of women?  This I do not know.

The characters of Sex and the City are not liberated.  The faster this is realized the better off society will be.  Instead of rehashing women into clichés, why doesn’t TV try something truly revolutionary and give honest representations of women who do not use sex and sexuality as a means to empowerment?  Sex and the City, like all television shows, is a for-profit venture.  Like all good shows it found a niche market that had yet to be touched and now many people are rich while others are left believing stereotypes and gender roles that women and feminists have been fighting for the past 50 years.

The way the women of Sex and the City exhibit power and independence is through sex (which is the last bastion of freedom) and shopping.  According to the show, this is how women deal with things.  They go out and find someone for the night, and then they go and find a pair of shoes to make themselves feel better.  When Samantha was dealing with her own personal desire to have sex with her neighbor, she fought these urges by buying a Mercedes full of designer goods.  

The closest thing to a statement or a message that I saw in the movie was when Miranda was out shopping for a Halloween costume.  She looks at the costumes and says, “Witch or sexy kitten…”  For this a good point is actually made.  Why are the choices for women when it comes to Halloween costumes mostly “sexy” followed by a noun or profession?  In addition, why do women, when creating their own costumes follow this same formula? (For reference, go to any major university in the US the weekend of Halloween and take a look around.  And for that matter, why do many men cross dress for Halloween?  A topic for a different season.)

The worst is when someone says, “me and my friends are just like Sex and the City.  She is like Carrie, I am like blagh, blah blah…”  No, you are not.  Just like no friend group is like Seinfeld or Friends.  They are all sitcoms, the characters are not real; they are characters, that is it.  Yes some people have some of the same characteristics as Carrie, Samantha, Jerry, Joey, or Monica, but no one ever exactly resembles a character from a sitcom, they are all too eccentric.

Sex and the City does not represent freedom and independence, it does nothing more than reinforce cultural, gender, and sexual stereotypes.  The quicker this is realized the faster society can move on and really work towards liberation.  Oh, and by the way, nothing on TV is revolutionary; it is all for profit seeking potential consumers and social groups to sell to.  Sex and the City found a niche that had yet to be touched, and now many people are rich while others are left seeking unattainable lifestyles.