I wonder, when the Kyd’s teacher gives the class something and tells them to take it home to “mom and dad,” does she think about correcting him? G isn’t her “dad” but maybe she just doesn’t want to bring attention to that fact. I’m sure there are other kids in the same boat, probably close to 50%. But I really don’t ever worry all that much about any of those kids.
Does she know who Santa and the Tooth Fairy really are, and just play along for our sake?
Why does she behave all night, and then suddenly become bi-polar at bedtime?
Last night she picked out a movie, Soccer Mom from Red Box, and it wasn’t awful. But thank Joe Pesci (see George Carlin, for why I’m thanking Joe over God) that she didn’t pick up on all the adult jokes. We have a soccer star who is also supposed to be some hunk, played by the greatness that is Dan Cortesse, and a girls soccer team that expects him to be their coach. Only it ends up being the Soccer Mom in disguise. Anyway, there’s reference to hotel room hook-ups, French maids uniforms, and naughty mother’s who need punishment. The writer was one more Red Bull away from writing a Cinemax flick.
In my life time I’ve seen the following technological advances as part of my every day life:
Color TV > Cable TV > Dish > Digital cable > HD
Cassette > CD > Digital music
Boom box > Walkman > iPod
Beta > VCR > Laser Disc > DVD > DVR/TiVo > BluRay
Rotary phone > Push button phone > Cordless phone > Cell phone in a bag > Smart phone
Big screen TVs > Bigger and flatter TVs
Atari > Nintendo > Genesis > PlayStation > xBox360 > Wii
Home computer > Laptop > Pocket PCs
Dial up > Broadband > Wireless
So what will the world look like in 25 years, when the Kyd is the same age as I am now?
December 19, 2008
December 17, 2008
Giving Tree
It’s funny how your point of view can change over time. When I was a youngin’, my favorite book in the world was Shel Silverstiens’ “The Giving Tree.” I just thought it was the coolest thing in the world. I wanted to be that boy, and I wanted that tree. He had a best friend, and one that would play whatever games he wanted. Then I became an uncle at 15, so when I was 16 I got my baby niece a copy of “The Giving Tree.” I didn’t realize it at the time, but obviously I wasn’t seeing the world through the eyes of a toddler any more. Most teenagers are angry and confused, but I was probably a little angrier than most at that age. So re-reading it to my niece, I began to see it as a story about being taken advantage of. That tree loved the boy unconditionally, and the boy just took advantage of the love and loyalty. He literally left the tree with nothing left to give, and nothing in return.
Now I’m a parent, and last year I got a copy for the Kyd. I hadn’t read it with her till last night, and once again, my interpretation has been turned upside down. Now I see the tree as a parent. And the boy is its child, and no one’s being taken advantage of. The tree, like any good parent, is just doing the best it can do to provide for its child. The boy wants to play, the tree gives him a safe place to play. The boy wants to rest, and he can rest with the tree. He needs money, and the tree provides him with work. Sounds just like my dad. But it isn’t just work, it’s a chance, a chance to provide for himself, a chance to make his own way. And when the boy gets older and is ready to move on, the tree makes that possible. Then the boy is a man, and every man still needs his parents. We need them for rest, for peace, for a safe place to go and to always remember where we come from.
Now I’m a parent, and last year I got a copy for the Kyd. I hadn’t read it with her till last night, and once again, my interpretation has been turned upside down. Now I see the tree as a parent. And the boy is its child, and no one’s being taken advantage of. The tree, like any good parent, is just doing the best it can do to provide for its child. The boy wants to play, the tree gives him a safe place to play. The boy wants to rest, and he can rest with the tree. He needs money, and the tree provides him with work. Sounds just like my dad. But it isn’t just work, it’s a chance, a chance to provide for himself, a chance to make his own way. And when the boy gets older and is ready to move on, the tree makes that possible. Then the boy is a man, and every man still needs his parents. We need them for rest, for peace, for a safe place to go and to always remember where we come from.
December 15, 2008
Know Justice
A few months back my wife told me about a scandal that knocked her small town on its collective ass back in the mid-80’s. A friend of hers’ father was killed, and then his wife was convicted of the crime. Since initially hearing the Cliffs Notes version of what happened, we have on occasion talked in greater detail about the “evidence” and interesting twists and turns that lead to the mother of 5 doing 50 years without the possibility of parole.
My wife’s old friend has been vigelente in her pursuit to see her mother freed, and waged an online war of sorts. She has her own blog, http://commutepatty.blogspot.com/ , and through her blog there’s a link to some of the requests for clemency and other appeals. http://www.patriciaprewitt.com/clemency/packet.pdf
Now, the fact that I’m so far removed from the case kind of makes reading about it feel like I’m reading another version of The Shawshank Redemption. But then I remember that my wife knew this alleged killer, as well as the victims. And anything resembling “entertainment” vanishes to only be replaced by some real shock and awe.
I won’t get too much into the case, as you can (and will want to) read for yourself. But I am going to hit some facts that seem to have jumped from the pages and bitch slapped me like Ike Turner. Being the analytical/anal SOB that I am, here it is in top 10 style: (of course, it’ll all make so much more sense after you read the second link I listed)
10. How do the police lose a nitrate test, one that just happen to prove she didn’t fire a gun? And what about blood spatter? I’m sure I’ve seen too many episodes of “Law & Order” and “CSI: Miami” but, wouldn’t a gun shot from such close range cover her in blood in a much different pattern than laying next to one who is shot?
9. The “magical” red boot
8. A poisoned guard dog soon after the murder, and after numerous reported prowlers which were investigated less than I proof read this post.
7. The sudden appearance of a second bullet wound a year later.
6. The jury was strongly influenced by the judge to render a verdict.
5. The overwhelming lack of anything that resembles evidence. Seriously, even if you think she did it, there’s more than enough room for “reasonable doubt.”
4. No motive. His life insurance policy had lapsed, there was no history of violence,
3. The obvious cover up.
We have allegations of drug dealing that seems to include local law enforcement. My wife has told me that the town had a drug problem at the time. I can only imagine that she’s been railroaded so hard because those higher up, know exactly how where the trail leads to. The fact that she’s still in is even more evidence of a cover up, one that would ruin (I assume) more than a few political careers.
There was testiomony from neighbors that the police just happen to forget about, testimony of a strange car sitting near by that night. This isn’t a city, it isn’t even a town the size of Stilwell, and strange cars get noticed.
2. No weapon ever recovered, when did she have time to get rid of the gun? I can’t get over the fact that we’re supposed to believe this hardworker, loving mother of 5, took the time to shoot her husband, slipped out of the house and hid the gun so well that some how, there were no tracks leading to it in the snow. Did she fly? Eat the weapon?
1. She didn’t do it, which is of major effin’ importance.
My wife’s old friend has been vigelente in her pursuit to see her mother freed, and waged an online war of sorts. She has her own blog, http://commutepatty.blogspot.com/ , and through her blog there’s a link to some of the requests for clemency and other appeals. http://www.patriciaprewitt.com/clemency/packet.pdf
Now, the fact that I’m so far removed from the case kind of makes reading about it feel like I’m reading another version of The Shawshank Redemption. But then I remember that my wife knew this alleged killer, as well as the victims. And anything resembling “entertainment” vanishes to only be replaced by some real shock and awe.
I won’t get too much into the case, as you can (and will want to) read for yourself. But I am going to hit some facts that seem to have jumped from the pages and bitch slapped me like Ike Turner. Being the analytical/anal SOB that I am, here it is in top 10 style: (of course, it’ll all make so much more sense after you read the second link I listed)
10. How do the police lose a nitrate test, one that just happen to prove she didn’t fire a gun? And what about blood spatter? I’m sure I’ve seen too many episodes of “Law & Order” and “CSI: Miami” but, wouldn’t a gun shot from such close range cover her in blood in a much different pattern than laying next to one who is shot?
9. The “magical” red boot
8. A poisoned guard dog soon after the murder, and after numerous reported prowlers which were investigated less than I proof read this post.
7. The sudden appearance of a second bullet wound a year later.
6. The jury was strongly influenced by the judge to render a verdict.
5. The overwhelming lack of anything that resembles evidence. Seriously, even if you think she did it, there’s more than enough room for “reasonable doubt.”
4. No motive. His life insurance policy had lapsed, there was no history of violence,
3. The obvious cover up.
We have allegations of drug dealing that seems to include local law enforcement. My wife has told me that the town had a drug problem at the time. I can only imagine that she’s been railroaded so hard because those higher up, know exactly how where the trail leads to. The fact that she’s still in is even more evidence of a cover up, one that would ruin (I assume) more than a few political careers.
There was testiomony from neighbors that the police just happen to forget about, testimony of a strange car sitting near by that night. This isn’t a city, it isn’t even a town the size of Stilwell, and strange cars get noticed.
2. No weapon ever recovered, when did she have time to get rid of the gun? I can’t get over the fact that we’re supposed to believe this hardworker, loving mother of 5, took the time to shoot her husband, slipped out of the house and hid the gun so well that some how, there were no tracks leading to it in the snow. Did she fly? Eat the weapon?
1. She didn’t do it, which is of major effin’ importance.
December 09, 2008
Scared Hirpless Tournament
In the car I was thinking of possible subjects to blog about today, and the one I felt most strongly about turned out to be my fears. So as I was thinking of how I could write about my fears I came up with two conclusions: One, nothing too morbid or personal. The thought of something happening to my wife or kyd is just too upsetting to even write about, let alone joke about. And secondly, I decided that breaking it down to a March Madness like tournament would be the best format.
So for starters, here are my top 8 fears, and their seeds:
1. The Kyd Dating: The top seed for numerous reasons, but mainly this one is like the North Carolina of my fears. The starting five are All-American level fears, and come together to form one horrifying fear. The guards are Fear of her having sex and fear of the intentions of boys. At small forward is the fear of her driving, as we all know how scary that is. The power forward is the fear of my self doing something stupid. And our starting center, the scariest fear in the nation, the fear of pregnancy.
I don’t even want to think of Dick Vitale using “diaper dandy” to describe any of these “players” the very thought makes me throw up in my mouth a little. Easily the favorite to win.
2. Fear of Food. By far our most illogical fear, yet it is consistently in the top 5 fear. I hate throwing up, and I hate embarrassment, and both are highly likely when it comes to me trying new foods.
3. Getting Promoted. Has the most upside to it, the money and all. But right now I have a pretty good thing going at work, aside from the money. I’m a “Program/Project Manager I” which means my level of responsibility is relatively low, as are expectations. This leads to lower levels of stress along with lower paychecks. I’m pretty fond of the idea of “under promise, over deliver.”
I’m pretty sure it helped me find the perfect girl for me. This isn’t a knock on her, but when she first met the bald guy that is shorter than she is, she had to have lower expectations than if I was Hirp Clooney. She gave me a shot (and I hope) I’ve always exceeded her expectations. The marriage being the exception that proves the rule, as it was the first time in my life I wanted to raise someone’s expectations and continue to exceed them.
But back to work, the very thought of getting bumped up fills me with all sorts of anxiety. The extra cash, would I mishandle it as I’ve done in the past? Would I fold like a Gap employee? What if they figured out I really don’t know jack or shit?
4. The Dentist. The sounds, the textures, the smells, the fact that they won’t stop asking me questions when they know I can’t respond. I both fear and hate the dentist.
5. Police in the Rear View. Any time a cop is driving behind me. My heart beats faster, my palms sweat and I want to vomit. I was less nervous at my wedding than anytime there’s a po-po behind me. I fear the ticket, but I also fear getting arrested. And I know I haven’t done anything, not that they know about or could prove anyway.
6. Layoffs. This one is working its way up the charts. Layoffs play in the same conference as the #3 seed.
7. Being Wrong. It’s mostly being wrong about the existence of a higher power. Not that I’ve lived some sin-filled life because I don’t believe in God, but I just can’t imagine how I can eat so much crow.
8. Snakes, Spiders and the Split second before my grill starts up.
Round 1
#1 Kyd Dating versus #8 Snakes, Spiders and the threat of the propane going boom. Kyd Dating completely dominates in every facet of the game. It’s 20-0 1 second in to the game, and that isn’t even physically possible.
#2 Food versus #7 Being Wrong. A near upset, but food holds on. Being Wrong is just so un-coachable, probably could have won if they listened better.
#3 Getting promoted versus #6 Layoffs. Of course it went in to Overtime, and Layoffs gives us the first upset of the tourney. Because, well face it, I’d rather get promoted and fail than get laid off. At least the paycheck would last a little longer.
#4 Dentist versus #5 The police. It’s never really an upset when the 5 seed beats the 4, they’re practically even to start with. The fear of having a cop behind me wins, as it happens more often and without warning. The dentist can always be planned for, and at least they let me watch TV or listen to my iPod.
Final 4
#1 Kyd dating versus #5 Police in the rear view. Another easy win for the Kyd Dating. I’m telling you, there’s never been a more dominant presence as Fear of Pregnancy, or a dynamic due like “FOP” and the guard, Hav’n Sex. I hate them more than Palestinians hate Israelis.
#2 Food versus #6 Layoffs. The fact is, at times I fear getting laid off so much that I can’t eat food I already like, so Layoff’s have officially become our Cinderalla Story, by making it all the way to the Finals.
Championship
#1 The Kyd Dating
Vs.
#6 Layoffs
Vegas is giving Kyd Dating a 30 point edge, but Layoffs have a tenacity that just grinds away at your nerves. Always looming, plotting and getting bigger every time I hear the news. But Layoffs are just no match for the powerhouse Kyd Dating. Even the bench is strong, with Fear of Being a Grandfather, Ulcers and the underrated, Fear of Her Growing Up.
So we have our Champion Fear. And I feel dizzy all the sudden. I need to go Google “shock collar for teenagers” and Missouri’s gun control laws.
So for starters, here are my top 8 fears, and their seeds:
1. The Kyd Dating: The top seed for numerous reasons, but mainly this one is like the North Carolina of my fears. The starting five are All-American level fears, and come together to form one horrifying fear. The guards are Fear of her having sex and fear of the intentions of boys. At small forward is the fear of her driving, as we all know how scary that is. The power forward is the fear of my self doing something stupid. And our starting center, the scariest fear in the nation, the fear of pregnancy.
I don’t even want to think of Dick Vitale using “diaper dandy” to describe any of these “players” the very thought makes me throw up in my mouth a little. Easily the favorite to win.
2. Fear of Food. By far our most illogical fear, yet it is consistently in the top 5 fear. I hate throwing up, and I hate embarrassment, and both are highly likely when it comes to me trying new foods.
3. Getting Promoted. Has the most upside to it, the money and all. But right now I have a pretty good thing going at work, aside from the money. I’m a “Program/Project Manager I” which means my level of responsibility is relatively low, as are expectations. This leads to lower levels of stress along with lower paychecks. I’m pretty fond of the idea of “under promise, over deliver.”
I’m pretty sure it helped me find the perfect girl for me. This isn’t a knock on her, but when she first met the bald guy that is shorter than she is, she had to have lower expectations than if I was Hirp Clooney. She gave me a shot (and I hope) I’ve always exceeded her expectations. The marriage being the exception that proves the rule, as it was the first time in my life I wanted to raise someone’s expectations and continue to exceed them.
But back to work, the very thought of getting bumped up fills me with all sorts of anxiety. The extra cash, would I mishandle it as I’ve done in the past? Would I fold like a Gap employee? What if they figured out I really don’t know jack or shit?
4. The Dentist. The sounds, the textures, the smells, the fact that they won’t stop asking me questions when they know I can’t respond. I both fear and hate the dentist.
5. Police in the Rear View. Any time a cop is driving behind me. My heart beats faster, my palms sweat and I want to vomit. I was less nervous at my wedding than anytime there’s a po-po behind me. I fear the ticket, but I also fear getting arrested. And I know I haven’t done anything, not that they know about or could prove anyway.
6. Layoffs. This one is working its way up the charts. Layoffs play in the same conference as the #3 seed.
7. Being Wrong. It’s mostly being wrong about the existence of a higher power. Not that I’ve lived some sin-filled life because I don’t believe in God, but I just can’t imagine how I can eat so much crow.
8. Snakes, Spiders and the Split second before my grill starts up.
Round 1
#1 Kyd Dating versus #8 Snakes, Spiders and the threat of the propane going boom. Kyd Dating completely dominates in every facet of the game. It’s 20-0 1 second in to the game, and that isn’t even physically possible.
#2 Food versus #7 Being Wrong. A near upset, but food holds on. Being Wrong is just so un-coachable, probably could have won if they listened better.
#3 Getting promoted versus #6 Layoffs. Of course it went in to Overtime, and Layoffs gives us the first upset of the tourney. Because, well face it, I’d rather get promoted and fail than get laid off. At least the paycheck would last a little longer.
#4 Dentist versus #5 The police. It’s never really an upset when the 5 seed beats the 4, they’re practically even to start with. The fear of having a cop behind me wins, as it happens more often and without warning. The dentist can always be planned for, and at least they let me watch TV or listen to my iPod.
Final 4
#1 Kyd dating versus #5 Police in the rear view. Another easy win for the Kyd Dating. I’m telling you, there’s never been a more dominant presence as Fear of Pregnancy, or a dynamic due like “FOP” and the guard, Hav’n Sex. I hate them more than Palestinians hate Israelis.
#2 Food versus #6 Layoffs. The fact is, at times I fear getting laid off so much that I can’t eat food I already like, so Layoff’s have officially become our Cinderalla Story, by making it all the way to the Finals.
Championship
#1 The Kyd Dating
Vs.
#6 Layoffs
Vegas is giving Kyd Dating a 30 point edge, but Layoffs have a tenacity that just grinds away at your nerves. Always looming, plotting and getting bigger every time I hear the news. But Layoffs are just no match for the powerhouse Kyd Dating. Even the bench is strong, with Fear of Being a Grandfather, Ulcers and the underrated, Fear of Her Growing Up.
So we have our Champion Fear. And I feel dizzy all the sudden. I need to go Google “shock collar for teenagers” and Missouri’s gun control laws.
December 08, 2008
Hirp the System
So the Juice isn’t loose. OJ has finally been squeezed. Paybacks a bitch, right? Well, shockingly enough, I think that whole thing is complete and utter BS. Did OJ break the law? Sure, and he should go to jail for what he did. But the law should be above vengeance. The system shouldn’t carry a grudge and OJ shouldn’t be looking at spending as much as 30 years in prison.
Of course I don’t know all the facts, hell, I probably know like four or five at the most. I know this much, he took some stuff from a moron who stole from him. I know he brought some friends with him to a hotel room, and one of the guys brought a gun, while another genius brought a tape recorder. Wait a second, time out right there, who goes to Vegas and brings a tape recorder? Better question is, who the hell still has a tape recorder? That guy must have purchased that recorder back in ’94 and always carried it on him, just incase he happened to be invited to commit a felony. Now I know there are some really stupid criminals out there, but one who audio tapes his crime, well he’s at the top (or maybe it’s the bottom) of that list. Really, you know he had that recorder on him, because once he knew he’d be around OJ, he saw dollar signs. And now he had a chance to record an angry Juice, how much would that be worth to the paparazzi? At least a few grand.
So this “over the hill” gang finds out that someone who stole from OJ is staying at the lovely Palace Station. They’re in Vegas for a wedding, having a few drinks I assume, and came up with the master plan of knocking on their door and demanding his items back. This sounds more like a story of how alcohol can make us do stupid things than criminal conspiracy, one of his five charges. Hell, OJ was even seen in the courtroom halls chatting with the “victim.”
Of course all three co-defendants make deals, and Clark County throws, not just the book at OJ, but the entire library. They, of course, convict OJ and sentence him to a total of 33 years in prison, with the possibility of parole in about 9 years. Just the possibility though, we all know he’ll serve more than 9. Why? Because he deserves to, duh. I mean, he did kill Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown, everyone knows that.
Only I thought the law was supposed to give us justice, not even the score. Look, the guys that carjacked me (and I think 3 or 4 others that weekend) saw their “ring leader” do 8 years. They actually shot someone that night, stole 3 or 4 cars at gunpoint and ran from the po-po’s. 8 years versus a guy with no priors, who wasn’t holding the gun and is still friendly with his “victim” and he’s looking at possibly spending 33 years in prison.
They didn’t convict OJ of stealing memorabilia, they evened the score. And that isn’t justice. Of course OJ should have done time for killing two people in Brentwood, but the system failed then. But the system just failed again. Revenge is fine, I totally understand and appreciate revenge. That’s just human nature, and if Fred Goldman wanted to hire someone to cut of OJ Simpsons’ head, that’d closer to “justice” than the state of Nevada cleaning up California’s mess 13 years later.
OJ going to jail is the ending every wanted to see, and no one (other than the Judge in Nevada) is trying to deny it, but we’re supposed to at least act like we want more from our legal system. We’re supposed to turn to our legal system RATHER than seek revenge, not for it. Yet this is widely acceptable in our society now. Maybe it’s because our President was willing to send troops to die so he could avenge his father’s nemesis, or maybe because it makes for the most entertaining story.
The only people, I think, that have the right to be pleased with this outcome are the families of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown. Not because they finally got the bastard, but because maybe now they can be left alone. If the public really wants justice for the victims, then Judge Ito, Marcia Clarke, Mark Furhman and OJ Simpson should all be doing time. Together, they killed two people and let the killer get away with it while making millions of dollars off the crime and absence of punishment.
Of course I don’t know all the facts, hell, I probably know like four or five at the most. I know this much, he took some stuff from a moron who stole from him. I know he brought some friends with him to a hotel room, and one of the guys brought a gun, while another genius brought a tape recorder. Wait a second, time out right there, who goes to Vegas and brings a tape recorder? Better question is, who the hell still has a tape recorder? That guy must have purchased that recorder back in ’94 and always carried it on him, just incase he happened to be invited to commit a felony. Now I know there are some really stupid criminals out there, but one who audio tapes his crime, well he’s at the top (or maybe it’s the bottom) of that list. Really, you know he had that recorder on him, because once he knew he’d be around OJ, he saw dollar signs. And now he had a chance to record an angry Juice, how much would that be worth to the paparazzi? At least a few grand.
So this “over the hill” gang finds out that someone who stole from OJ is staying at the lovely Palace Station. They’re in Vegas for a wedding, having a few drinks I assume, and came up with the master plan of knocking on their door and demanding his items back. This sounds more like a story of how alcohol can make us do stupid things than criminal conspiracy, one of his five charges. Hell, OJ was even seen in the courtroom halls chatting with the “victim.”
Of course all three co-defendants make deals, and Clark County throws, not just the book at OJ, but the entire library. They, of course, convict OJ and sentence him to a total of 33 years in prison, with the possibility of parole in about 9 years. Just the possibility though, we all know he’ll serve more than 9. Why? Because he deserves to, duh. I mean, he did kill Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown, everyone knows that.
Only I thought the law was supposed to give us justice, not even the score. Look, the guys that carjacked me (and I think 3 or 4 others that weekend) saw their “ring leader” do 8 years. They actually shot someone that night, stole 3 or 4 cars at gunpoint and ran from the po-po’s. 8 years versus a guy with no priors, who wasn’t holding the gun and is still friendly with his “victim” and he’s looking at possibly spending 33 years in prison.
They didn’t convict OJ of stealing memorabilia, they evened the score. And that isn’t justice. Of course OJ should have done time for killing two people in Brentwood, but the system failed then. But the system just failed again. Revenge is fine, I totally understand and appreciate revenge. That’s just human nature, and if Fred Goldman wanted to hire someone to cut of OJ Simpsons’ head, that’d closer to “justice” than the state of Nevada cleaning up California’s mess 13 years later.
OJ going to jail is the ending every wanted to see, and no one (other than the Judge in Nevada) is trying to deny it, but we’re supposed to at least act like we want more from our legal system. We’re supposed to turn to our legal system RATHER than seek revenge, not for it. Yet this is widely acceptable in our society now. Maybe it’s because our President was willing to send troops to die so he could avenge his father’s nemesis, or maybe because it makes for the most entertaining story.
The only people, I think, that have the right to be pleased with this outcome are the families of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown. Not because they finally got the bastard, but because maybe now they can be left alone. If the public really wants justice for the victims, then Judge Ito, Marcia Clarke, Mark Furhman and OJ Simpson should all be doing time. Together, they killed two people and let the killer get away with it while making millions of dollars off the crime and absence of punishment.
December 02, 2008
Hirplash
Last night I re-watched Crash, and my wife watched it for the first time. She’s a smart cookie, and was catching on to some events before they happened, and would ask me if this or that was going to happen. Before I met her, most the moms I knew had difficulty or flat out didn’t want to see, any movie in which a child was a victim. My wife isn’t any different, and we’ve had to turn off a movie or two in the past.
Of course the character she liked most was the hard working and doting father, Daniel (played by Michael Pena), and she instantly connected with him on a parent level in the scene where he gives his daughter her “impenetrable cloak.” She put the pieces together fairly quickly, and began asking me if the store owner was going to hurt or kill him. I didn’t want to give it away, but I knew she’d be pissed at me if he was killed and I let her watch. So I told her the truth, that he isn’t hurt. Soon the store owner was robbed and found Daniels name on a receipt, and my wife stirred in her seat. As the lunatic owner sat outside Daniels home, she asked if something happened to his daughter. I said that she wouldn’t be killed. It was true, and I knew she’d be upset by the scene in which we are lead to believe she’s shot, but I didn’t want to dilute the scene.
Then it happened, that powerful moment where Lara leaps into her father’s arms to protect him just as the gun goes off. She gasped, and I quickly told her that the girl was okay. But it was too late. It didn’t matter that for two seconds she thought the girl had been shot, those two seconds was all it took. I may get in trouble here, but my wife cried. Probably a mixture of emotions; horrified, sad, pissed at me, confused and top of the list, imaging she and the Kyd in that situation.
I’m fairly certain that not telling her what was the come was the “right” thing to do, but it didn’t make it the easy thing to do. Crash, in my opinion, is an important movie, and I didn’t want to lessen the impact because those two seconds stay with you. The silent scream we see from Daniel is completely audible in our heads.
Earlier in the evening, I was watching another Don Cheadle movie, Talk to Me. I saw it last summer, and it’s a solid B, maybe B+ movie. But I was distracted by the voices in my head. I had an idea for a cast that in part I really would like to see assembled, and part of me wondered why it hadn’t happened yet. I want to see a movie with Denzel, Cheadle, Terrance Howard, Jeffrey Wright, Thadie Newton, and Halle Berry. Just give us a great script with great characters for a talented cast. Race doesn’t need to be a theme, and lets just skip the bio-pic, which seems to be the only time the masses will accept a largely black cast. Give us The Departed or a Saving Private Ryan. Throw a ton of money behind it, and put a world class director in the chair. Don’t market it with a soundtrack of the most popular rappers of the day. Score it as you’d score any great movie. No token white guy roles, unless it’s the right actor for the part.
It could be a monumental movie, and not a monumental “black” movie, only when that adjective is removed from the description. And there’s absolutely no reason this cast shouldn’t be assembled.
Of course the character she liked most was the hard working and doting father, Daniel (played by Michael Pena), and she instantly connected with him on a parent level in the scene where he gives his daughter her “impenetrable cloak.” She put the pieces together fairly quickly, and began asking me if the store owner was going to hurt or kill him. I didn’t want to give it away, but I knew she’d be pissed at me if he was killed and I let her watch. So I told her the truth, that he isn’t hurt. Soon the store owner was robbed and found Daniels name on a receipt, and my wife stirred in her seat. As the lunatic owner sat outside Daniels home, she asked if something happened to his daughter. I said that she wouldn’t be killed. It was true, and I knew she’d be upset by the scene in which we are lead to believe she’s shot, but I didn’t want to dilute the scene.
Then it happened, that powerful moment where Lara leaps into her father’s arms to protect him just as the gun goes off. She gasped, and I quickly told her that the girl was okay. But it was too late. It didn’t matter that for two seconds she thought the girl had been shot, those two seconds was all it took. I may get in trouble here, but my wife cried. Probably a mixture of emotions; horrified, sad, pissed at me, confused and top of the list, imaging she and the Kyd in that situation.
I’m fairly certain that not telling her what was the come was the “right” thing to do, but it didn’t make it the easy thing to do. Crash, in my opinion, is an important movie, and I didn’t want to lessen the impact because those two seconds stay with you. The silent scream we see from Daniel is completely audible in our heads.
Earlier in the evening, I was watching another Don Cheadle movie, Talk to Me. I saw it last summer, and it’s a solid B, maybe B+ movie. But I was distracted by the voices in my head. I had an idea for a cast that in part I really would like to see assembled, and part of me wondered why it hadn’t happened yet. I want to see a movie with Denzel, Cheadle, Terrance Howard, Jeffrey Wright, Thadie Newton, and Halle Berry. Just give us a great script with great characters for a talented cast. Race doesn’t need to be a theme, and lets just skip the bio-pic, which seems to be the only time the masses will accept a largely black cast. Give us The Departed or a Saving Private Ryan. Throw a ton of money behind it, and put a world class director in the chair. Don’t market it with a soundtrack of the most popular rappers of the day. Score it as you’d score any great movie. No token white guy roles, unless it’s the right actor for the part.
It could be a monumental movie, and not a monumental “black” movie, only when that adjective is removed from the description. And there’s absolutely no reason this cast shouldn’t be assembled.
December 01, 2008
CaliHirponiacation
Sophomore slumps may sound as they only belong to college kids, but any music or sports fan knows this isn’t the case. A rookie hits the scene and has a great first season, and in their second season their production is far below the now high expectations they have set for themselves. Music works the same way, a great debut is followed up with something sub-par, the fact that par is set after just one release is both unfair and honest. Just ask Hootie, Fionna Apple and any Royals fan (you remember the Hammer and Berrora).
Television works the same way. “Californiacation” was one of the few shows to have a near perfect first season; it was as likely to suffer a drop off this year. I didn’t want to even consider the possibility, but then season two began. I’m not a prude, or easily offended, but in the first few episodes they said “fuck” as often, and as meaningless, as any rapper with a gold album. There was so much meaningless sex and drugs it could have been written by just about any high school senior who spent his nights snorting Ritalin and watching Cinemax. Worst of all, it had stopped sounding personal. They went through the motions, and followed some foolishly designed formula.
Based on how last season ended, I knew it would be hard to strike the same chords. Hank took Karen away from marriage that made about as much sense as Lyle and Julia; they sped away to a happy ending. But there was nothing “happy” about Hank, the only happy endings he could have would have capped off a massage. It was a dud season ending, and it set up season two to flop. Expectedly, it did just that. Until the happy union between the couple that seemed destine to be together, fell apart. There were some bumps, and a little too much time spent with Ashby and Mia (a nasty little something the writers need to banish with a shot of Penicillin) but they brought the show back to its roots.
We’ve seen it time and time before, the television shows where everyone is pulling for the guy to get the girl. Only once he gets the girl, the quality of the show almost always slumps. “Friends” is, of course, the perfect example. The highly underrated, “How I Met Your Mother” is designed to avoid this pitfall, as we know that when Ted finally meets Mrs. Right, that it will be time to call it a wrap.
But we may have a television first, a breakup actually fixing a mistake. Hopefully Showtime can perform the same magic on “Weeds”; as that would be the tri-fecta. We’ve seen “Entourage” and “Californiacation” return to form, so there’s a chance.
Television works the same way. “Californiacation” was one of the few shows to have a near perfect first season; it was as likely to suffer a drop off this year. I didn’t want to even consider the possibility, but then season two began. I’m not a prude, or easily offended, but in the first few episodes they said “fuck” as often, and as meaningless, as any rapper with a gold album. There was so much meaningless sex and drugs it could have been written by just about any high school senior who spent his nights snorting Ritalin and watching Cinemax. Worst of all, it had stopped sounding personal. They went through the motions, and followed some foolishly designed formula.
Based on how last season ended, I knew it would be hard to strike the same chords. Hank took Karen away from marriage that made about as much sense as Lyle and Julia; they sped away to a happy ending. But there was nothing “happy” about Hank, the only happy endings he could have would have capped off a massage. It was a dud season ending, and it set up season two to flop. Expectedly, it did just that. Until the happy union between the couple that seemed destine to be together, fell apart. There were some bumps, and a little too much time spent with Ashby and Mia (a nasty little something the writers need to banish with a shot of Penicillin) but they brought the show back to its roots.
We’ve seen it time and time before, the television shows where everyone is pulling for the guy to get the girl. Only once he gets the girl, the quality of the show almost always slumps. “Friends” is, of course, the perfect example. The highly underrated, “How I Met Your Mother” is designed to avoid this pitfall, as we know that when Ted finally meets Mrs. Right, that it will be time to call it a wrap.
But we may have a television first, a breakup actually fixing a mistake. Hopefully Showtime can perform the same magic on “Weeds”; as that would be the tri-fecta. We’ve seen “Entourage” and “Californiacation” return to form, so there’s a chance.
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