MORE THAN ALITO SCARY

A Latina is nominated to the Supreme Court!

President Bush nominated ultra-conservative Samuel Alito, a judge on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, to the Supreme Court.

Since today is Halloween, instead of posting the predictable rant, I thought I'd scare everyone and write the opposite of what I'm feeling:

* * *

Yippppeee! At last, our savior, George W. Bush, has delivered on his promise to appoint a justice in the mold of Thomas and Scalia -- the only two on the Supreme Court who recognize that Christ's law is supreme and that the U.S. Constitution should only be interpreted consistent with the compassionate colonialism of our slave-holding forefathers!

We must now contact all of our fellow members in CCC (Caucasian Christian Coalition) to rally support for nominee Samuel Alito! His nickname is even "Scalito," because of how his judicial philosophy mirrors Justice Scalia.

Unlike Harriet Myers, who could not be replied upon because she has breasts and because breasts might lead conservatives to become sensitive to the needs of gyno-Americans and Negroes, Judge Alito will be faithful to those of us who think Rehnquist is a liberal wacko.

Alito will put the U.S. back into U-T-E-R-U-S.

After all, in his 1991 concurrence/dissent in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, he wrote that there was nothing unconstitutional about a law that required women to notify their husbands before having an abortion. Essentially, he articulated the truth that women are too stupid to deserve a choice. Hee-haw!

Alito is also quite aware that the people being most discriminated today are rich straight white men.

In the area of men's rights, Alito wrote an opinion in 2000 that ruled that the Family Medical Leave Act (which guarantees, among other things, employees time off to take care of their children or care for an immediate family member) was unconstitutional because there is no evidence that women are disadvantaged in the workplace without family leave rights.

Alito will also eliminate all the "special rights" that minorities have acquired since we agreed to share water fountains. In 1997, Judge Alito wrote a dissent in the case of Brav. v. Marriott Hotels that argued that employers should receive protection from racial discrimination lawsuits if they believe they selected the "best" candidate, even if their sense of "best" is tainted by their racial bigotry.

In short, Alito will return America to its full glory, before desegregation and women's rights ruined everything. May those who filibuster him roast in hell!

Scarlet letters for everyone! Leave no billionaire behind! No creationism, no peace! Beam Sulu to hell, Scotty! These colors don't run ... but they run the world!

Heil Alito! Heil Bush!

* * *

The White House is now 1,000,000,000 times scarier than a Haunted House.


On behalf of everyone at Poplicks.com, Happy Halloween!

--Junichi

QUESTION OF THE WEEK #30

Body painting reaches a new low.

This Week's Question:

What Halloween costume will you not be seen in tonight?

--Junichi

P.W.B. PROFESSOR-ING WHILE BLACK

Even if you're a professor at one of the most left-leaning campuses in America, if you're a Black man, you got problems. This is an astounding case of potential racial profiling, though sadly, not surprising.

Here's a more updated version of the story.

--O.W.

ROSA PARKS GETS CAPITOL HONOR

trailblazers
I just learned that Rosa Parks' body will lie in state under the Capitol Dome in Washington D.C.

This is remarkable for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is: she is the first woman and first second African American accorded this honor. Provided, it's only happened 29 times, but damn, in the 151 years since they started doing this, you'd think they would have managed to find other women or Black persons to honor this way. It's pretty startling to see J. Edgar Hoover but not Martin Luther King, Jr.

In any case, this is obviously a major honor to pay, though the cynic realist in me wants to point out that Parks dedicated her life to racial and social justice and while the U.S. government is taking an extraordinary step to honor her legacy, maybe they could actually be doing more to see that her life's work wasn't in vain. Junichi already noted this in an earlier post but seriously, I think many would agree that while overt racism - the kind that forces people to the back of the bus - has become illegal, de facto racism is as profoundly a part of American society as it ever was. The danger with all the accolades being showered on Parks is if it builds in a complacency or belief that the need for a civil rights movement ended with her and the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

--O.W.

THE REAL TAKEOVER

Damn.

--O.W.

"SCHWARZNEGGER STREET": A BASH THROUGH FLASH (ANIMATION)

Even if you like Gov. Terminator, you gotta admit, this s--- is funny.

Karl Rove as Grover and Cheney as the Cookie Monster had me laughing to the point of pain.
(Source: Soustrut.com's Ms. Damn)

--O.W.

TURN OFF THAT RADIO!

who stole the soul?
Just got back from Pasadena, CA where the Rap Sessions tour is continuing. Unlike in Madison, last week, we were joined by additional members, including Ernie P (who is a regular tour member) and the Bay Area's own Davey D. Just to give some basic background, the Rap Sessions tour are a series of community/college conversations around race, hip-hop, politics, society, etc. We've had about three dates so far, beginning in Chicago back in the summer and I'm in Providence next week and then a bunch of dates in the spring.

Some interesting points made during Wed panel. I'll try to be succinct with my summaries:

Davey D spoke at length about radio and how, over the last 10-15 years, media consolidation (think Clear Channel or Infinity) have been driven by disturbing political influences designed to suppress dissent or alternative voices to the current status quo. This is why, as Davey argues, you hear 50 Cent all over the radio and on BET but you won't hear the same amount of programming devoted to songs or artists that speak on, say, spirituality, social justice, or anything that might be construed as "positive" (let alone progressive).

This goes back to one of the classic debates surrounding pop culture and hip-hop in particular: who leads who? Is crack-celebrating, big-booty-worshipping, gun-bucking rap music the result of consumers saying, "this is what we want to listen to?" Or is that merely what they're offered by corporations running record labels, radio, video, etc.? I don't think it's an either/or situation: there's overlap, collusion, etc. But ultimately, the argument being put forward is that, at least with radio, there's a concerted effort to downplay any music that diverges from (let alone critiques) the current staple of pimp/playa/gangsta rap. (Where "My Humps" fits into this, I don't know. I don't want to know.)

This has always been a highly contentious debate though unfortunately, often gets dumbed down into a set of extremes...what you might call the "corporate radio/record industry are unmitigated evil" vs. "10,000,000 Elvis fans can't be wrong" sides.

The bigger question lurking behind the issue is along the lines of, "why is today's hip-hop music - as filtered through radio - seemingly so socially irrelevant?" and in trying to address that, everyone seems to have someone else to scapegoat. Fans blame the artists for not doing more to be positive. Artists blame the industry (which would include radio and labels) for pushing their own agenda. The industry blame the fans, saying that they only deliver what the people want. And so the cycle continues.

---

One more thing, on a somewhat related note: Davey was also arguing that 50 Cent is not as big in the streets as folks think...his reasoning was that given the huge promotional push 50 has gotten on TV, print, radio, with the upcoming movie, etc., his 4 million albums sold (for The Massacre) actually falls short of expectation and that this is evidence that 50 may be selling amongst suburban consumers but not in the hood. (Actually, I'm not sure what the logic in arriving at that conclusion is. I might have missed something).

--O.W.

MIERS WITHDRAWS NOMINATION

Hmmmm ... what other friends of mine need jobs?

Boy, this is a bad week for Texas.

The undefeated sweep of Bush's loyalty to his Lone Star friends seems to have ended.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/27/AR2005102700547.html

I don't think her "withdrawal" is as much a sign of Bush's weakness as it is a victory for the way-right wing and a sign of how much the White House is controlled by the most reactionary wings of the GOP's Big Tent of Hatred (awesome for Halloween!!).

Now, yet again, the big question is whether Bush will try to continue to avoid a united Democratic rebellion and a nationally televised debate about abortion by choosing nominees with no record of opposing Roe ... or whether he strives for the "Most Conservative President Ever" award and nominates someone who openly advocates turning back the clock.

I'd prefer that Bush throw a real curveball and propose an altogether different Justice Miers:

It has, after all, been a long time coming.

--Junichi

PLAYING DRESS-UP

The California legislature just passed a bill, AB 787, that penalizes anyone who impersonates a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces with the intent to defraud.

Who might be targeted by this bill? I can only think of two persons who might violate this legislation:

The Village People ...



... and the current President of the United States.



But I don't think that the Vililage People had the intent to defraud.

(With thanks to Steve Lowery)

--Junichi

CAN WE PLEASE HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE?

I am incredibly saddened at the death of Rosa Parks, a pioneer in the civil rights movement and a hero of the first order.

I am also horrified that the number of U.S. military deaths officially reached 2,000 and counting.

And I am wondering when the reporters covering these two stories will make the intimate connection between the civil rights movement and the anti-war movement.

Ms. Parks's death will undoubtedly spark a rash of articles assessing the state of racial equality today. No doubt, we Americans have come a long way when we (99% of us anyway) look with disgust at a segregated bus system in Montgomery, Alabama that required a black woman to give up her seat for a white man.

But "civil rights," as defined by the modern civil rights movement, went far beyond the Mongtomery buses and the Topeka classrooms, spreading far into the fields of Vietnam and into the inseparable bonds between racial minorities in America and the peoples of the so-called third world.

In this regard, we have regressed when considering the apathy that blankets our country when our leaders send 2,000 Americans -- disproportionately young, poor, and people of color -- to die in a senseless war that has taken the lives of 100,000 brothers and sisters dehumanized as the enemy. Rosa Parks undoubtedly inspired a new generation of activists, but Cindy Sheehan is, sadly, one of the few who have taken the torch to connect the struggle for civil rights with the struggle to end our war in Iraq.

Any article about Rosa Parks that fails to focus on more global issues of equality is, in my opinion, missing the point.

--Junichi

QUESTION OF THE WEEK #29

More evidence of the president's illiteracy

This Week's Question:

What book has most changed your life?

--Junichi

VILLAGE VOICE SOLD TO NEW TIMES: THE DEATH OF THE "ALTERNATIVE" WEEKLY?

I suppose people far more in the know about this sort of thing saw it coming, but of all the weeklies that I thought would hold out against the New Times juggernaught (aka the Clear Channel of alt. weeklies), I'd thought it'd be the Village Voice. However, it looks like economics have won out over independence as the Voice will be sold to New Times this week.

For most of you who depend on alt. weeklies to figure out what bars to go to on a given weekend, none of this probably matters to you but for this has to be a rather despairing event for anyone with an interest in independent media. Alternative weeklies have been on the decline in several ways over the last 10 years - a combination of financial woes as well as the rise of internet media sites which have been fierce competitors for classified revenue (yes, blame Craigslist). So while none of this is a huge surprise per se, it's still a big deal. New Times now owns many of the major alt. weeklies I can think of: pick any major American city and odds are, they own the sole weekly around. Village Voice Media (which owned a handful of other weeklies itself) was one of the last that still provided a real "alternative" at all to New Times and while they claim nothing will change, it's hard to see that really being the case.

What makes New Times particularly worrisome is how they syndicate content from one weekly and then spread it around all the other ones in the family. So, for example, a movie review appearing in one market will appear in all the other ones. This reduces the overall number of voices and opinions, essentially homogenizing content throughout the New Times network, regardless of geographic context.

At least the San Francisco Bay Guardian is still independent (tick tick tick).

---

Jeff Chang writes on his own blog about this deal and says the same things I'm trying to impart, just, you know, a lot better.

--O.W.

NEW T.V. SEASON REVUE(ED)

(Brought to you by the magic that is Tivo)

The Colbert Report (Comedy Central, Mo - Th, 11:30pm-Midnight). Love the Daily Show. Loved Colbert on said show. Not so loving The Colbert Report. I know it's new and trying to feel its way out but right now, its "way" feels clunky and awkward. The reason why Jon Stewart works is because he plays the straight man to all the comedians around him (btw, Rob Cordury as the new "This Week In God" host = genius). Colbert is a comedian parodying a straight man but with no foil to contrast with. It's just not working right now. Here's hoping he finds better footing. Alternate Opinion: After the first show, the EW Popwatch said the show was, "pretty dead-on funny."

Everybody Hates Chris (UPN, Th 8-9pm). Best new show of the season. Not just one of the smartest Black sitcoms in recent memory, just one of the smartest sitcoms, period. Great characters, good writing, and good god: engages race in a frank (though irreverent) fashion, more so than any other show on network TV I can think of (The Wire not included). Alternate Opinion: The Parents Television Council lists the show as "one of the ten best...for family viewing on prime time television." (Worst show? The War At Home. Poor Michael Rappaport. Dude just can't catch a break).

Prison Break (Fox, Mo 9-10pm). Entertaining enough but even though it's barely half a dozen shows in, it's starting to wear a bit thin on me. They better break out soon. And I could care less about the investigation being led by the attorney/ex-lover. They needed better casting there. Alternate Opinion: The Blogcritics.com's Sterish says, "This is a good way to start off the fall season."

How I Met Your Mother (CBS, Mo 8:30-9pm). I like the premise of the show: 25 years in the future, man tells his kids about how he met their mother back in 2005. And on that premise alone...I've been watching but really? The casting and writing are both very uneven and they seriously need to kill the laugh track. I'm very surprised by all the positive reviews this has been getting...there are things I like: Neil Patrick Harris killing "Doogie" off forever, the return of Allyson Hannigan (post-Buffy), even though her role is pretty dull, the lead character (played by Josh Radnor) is easy to like, but this just doesn't gel right. Alternate Opinion: The TV Squad says, after the pilot, "I think this is going to speak volums to the generation it's supposed to." (Somehow, I don't think this is my generation they're referring to).

My Name Is Earl (NBC, Tu 9-9:30pm). Like Everybody Hates Chris except remove all the Black people and replace them with white trash. Good writing, Jason Lee is solid...but I just have no interest in trailer park sitcoms. Nothing personal. Alternate Opinion: Newsday's Review Crew gave it one A, two Cs, and a D. "Each week, Earl corrects one thing he has done wrong in the past. Perhaps NBC can take its cue from that premise and cancel this show."

Supernatural (WB, Tu 9-10pm). This had gotten some positive pre-season chatter so I checked out the first three episodes. Imagine X-Files without the engrossing sexual tension and far more tepid writing. Alternate Opinion: One Couch Critic says, "the show really does keep us going each week, and I can't wait to see what happens next."

In Short:

• Invasion (ABC, We 10-11pm). Another Lost wanna-be but with a plot that manages to move even slower.
  
• The Apprentice: Martha Stewart (NBC, We 8-9pm). It's nice that Martha writes each fire-ee a personalized letter but this show just lacks bite. If Martha doesn't rediscover her inner b****, the ratings on this are just going to slide even more.
  
• Three Wishes (NBC, Fr 9-10pm). My sister-in-law is one of the co-hosts (hint: I'm not talking about Amy Grant) so I have a conflict-in-interest in saying anything about this positive or negative. It's definitely aimed at the red states/Walmart country though, for better or for worse.

--O.W.

NEW MUSIC REVUE(ED)

Sorry for being so sporadic with posts these days - this week's been especially hectic since I had to travel to Madison ("come for the brat, stay for the cheese curls!") this week, as part of the Rap Sessions tour. (We're down in Pasadena next week, then Providence the week after that. If you're in either city, come out and holler).

Anyways, thanks to the new gig and other responsibilities, I've actually been listening to more new music than I typically do. Here's a few reports back:


Rev Run: Distortion (Def Jam). Better than you'd think...but you'd probably think it'd be pretty bad, especially based on the disaster that was Crown Royal. The production is actually pretty listenable and while Run hasn't updated his flow since, well, 1984, it still works for him. The cover image, however, does not. Repeat spins? Not likely.

Alternate Opinion: Bol was, "actually feel[ing] this."


Atmosphere: You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having (Rhymesayers). Of all the "cult" indie hip-hop acts out there, I'd rather listen to five Atmosphere albums than a handful of Aesop Rock songs (I'm sure he's a good MC. At least my students say so. But I can't stand dude's voice. Never have.) Like this new album - not his best work, but par for the course. ANT's beats were excellent though. Repeat spins? Sure.

Alternate Opinion: Sean Fennessey (for Pitchfork) sez, "You can't imagine how much fun I wasn't having listening to this album."


Bun B: Trill (Asylum/Rap-A-Lot). The next best thing to another UGK album? If I never hear another keyboard track again in my lifetime, it'll be too soon...but it's still nice to hear Bun on something more elaborate than another rushed-to-market mixtape. A few outstanding songs, reminded me of Jeezy's album in that respect (well, that and all the crack talk). Repeat spins? Not the whole album, but certain tracks, yes (actually I could have said this for about 95% of what I've heard this year).

Alternate Opinion: Nastack opines: " Sort of like Paul Wall's album, the album really didn't change up from the same material I'm used to hearing from Bun B ".


Lil Kim: The Naked Truth (Atlantic/WEA) Five mics/stars? Uh, no. The best album this year by a rapper-facing-jail-time = The B.Coming. This wasn't a terrible album but overall, Lil Kim's news-making is more interesting than her music. Repeat Spins? Nah.

Alternate Opinion: Danielle Stolich counters, "With its brutal honesty and hot tracks, The Naked Truth does not disappoint."


Big Shug: Who's Hard (Sure Shot). Well, Shug rhymes better than Malachi, but the Premier beats on here are not of Livin' Proof caliber. A few decent tracks but you really have to wonder how it is that Gang Starr's whole steez went from a full clip to an empty chamber in just a few years. Repeat Spins? Only if I'm feeling really nostalgic for 1998.

Alternate Opinion: Believe it or not (actually, believe it)...I couldn't find a single review of this anywhere else via Google's blogsearch or Technorati. Like whoa.

--O.W.

MORE MEANINGLESS MUSIC LISTS

Whoomp! 20 Tracks!

I've created more random lists for your perusal:

TOP 25 ARTISTS WHO DON'T HAVE ENOUGH "HITS" TO JUSTIFY THEIR GREATEST HITS ALBUM:

1. Tag Team
2. Snow
   
3. Hillary Duff
4. Vengaboys*
5. 69 Boyz
6. Martika
7. Shaquille O'Neal
8. Stevie B
9. Limahl
10. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
11. Mr. Mister
12. Go West
13. Eric Carmen
14. Animotion
15. Samantha Fox
16. Ugly Kid Joe
17. Twisted Sister
    
18. Kashif
19. UGK Baha Men
    
20. Lita Ford
21. Savage Garden
22. B2K
23. Vanilla Ice
24. Juvenile Boomtown Rats
25. Big Country

* = I'd like to especially recognize Vengaboys of "We Like To Party" fame for ambitiously titling their greatest hits album: Greatest Hits Part I. Can't wait for Part 2!


TOP 10 SONGS THAT REFERENCE TACO BELL

1. "Danger! High Voltage" - Electric Six
2. "B.O.B." - Outkast
3. "Scenario" - A Tribe Called Quest
4. "America, F*@k Yeah" - Trey Parker
5. "Posse on Broadway" - Sir Mix-A-Lot
6. "Wynona’s Big Brown Beaver" - Primus
7. "Gone" - Kanye West feat. Cam'Rom & Consequence
8. "Hoe Cakes" - MF Doom
9. "Ya Mama" - Pharcyde
10. "Fast Food" - 'Weird Al' Yankovic

TOP 10 ARTISTS WHO ARE RARELY IDENTIFIED AS BEING -- OR HAVING AT LEAST ONE MEMBER WHO IS -- OF ASIAN OR PART-ASIAN HERITAGE

1. Jay-Z (unverified and highly questionable - see comments)
   
2. Amerie (apparently I'm the only one who hasn't read numerous articles about her Korean heritage)
   
3. Enrique Iglesias
4. Jocelyn Enriquez
5. Ashanti
6. Metallica (Kirk Hammett)
7. Sean Paul
8. The Pixies (Joey Santiago)
9. Michelle Branch
10. No Doubt (Tony Kanal)

(Just so I don't get flamed for forgetting somebody, I feel obligated to list off every "popular" pop/rock/hip hop arist in America (that I can recall) who is, or includes somebody who is, Asian or Asian American: Norah Jones, Smashing Pumpkins/Perfect Circle (James Iha), Jin, Linkin Park (Mike Shinoda/Joseph Hahn), N*E*R*D/Neptunes (Chad Hugo), Soundgarden (Kim Thayil), Black Eyed Peas (Apl.de.ap), Rachael Yamagata, Lyrics Born, Sean Lennon, Yoko Ono, Pizzicatto 5, M.I.A., Hoobastank (Doug Robb), The Jets, Kid Koala, Cibo Matto, Big Head Todd & The Monsters, Dee-Lite, Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, Yeah Yeah Yeahs (Karen O), Handsome Boy Modeling School (Dan"The Automator" Nakamura), Reel Big Fish (Matt Wong), Panjabi MC, Big Head Todd & The Monsters (Todd Park Mohr), Invisbl Skratch Piklz, my man Denizen Kane, and, well, William Hung. So now, did I forget anybody?)


TOP 10 SONGS THAT RHYME "BACARDI" WITH "PARTY"

1. "It's My Life" - Mariah Carey
2. "The Jump Off" - Lil' Kim feat. Mr. Cheeks
3. "You Be Illin'" - Run D.M.C.
4. "Where The Party At" - Jagged Edge feat. Nelly
5. "In Da Club" - 50 Cent
6. "Get Ur Freak On (Remix)" - Missy Elliott feat. Twista
7. "Thug Lovin'" - Ja Rule feat. Bobby Brown
8. "Triple Trouble" - Beastie Boys
9. "Jack The Ripper" - LL Cool J
10. "Don't U Know" - ODB feat. Killah Priest

--Junichi

IMPROVING WACK RAP SHOWS

do as the teacher does
This is no big revelation but as a whole, hip-hop shows tend to have a reputation for, well, sucking. That's not every show or artist but in general, rap concerts don't always have the best production qualities and over time, it gets to be an irritation. Now, Bay Area hip-hop writer and radio personality Davey D is mad as hell and he won't take it no more. In a screed published through his WWW site, Davey lays into the wackness that can be rap shows:

1-DON’T TELL THE SOUNDMAN TO TURN YOU UP- If you’re not the headlining act you will only be given so much sound… The problem here is a lot of acts don’t show up for sound check and they basically wind up working things out on stage in front of a live audience.

2-ALWAYS LEAVE THEM WANTING MORE-This applies to new groups. Look, let’s be honest, if you new to the scene, do 2 or 3 songs and bounce. Don’t do an entire album worth of material. Don’t do your old demo songs before you got signed. Trust me, no one wants to hear all that. They are waiting for the headliners. Come in do a couple of songs. Do them well and leave the crowd saying ‘Damn they were good I WISH they did more’. Don’t leave the crowd saying ‘Damn I WISH he'd hurry up and get off the stage.’

3-ALWAYS HAVE PLAN A, PLAN B AND PLAN C- Look, we all been to enough shows to know the sound is always messing up or that the turntables are gonna skip or the CD player isn’t working correctly. This has occurred enough times for us to know that a prudent rapper will have back up plans ready to go in case of a malfunction.

4-DON’T BRING 50 PEOPLE ON STAGE UNLESS THEY ARE INVOLVED IN A CHOREOGRAPHED ROUTINE.-This has got to be the biggest complaint folks have about rap shows. You have a guy who is either insecure in his showmanship abilities or he feels like he owes his homeboys a thing or two, so he invites everyone on stage who in turn decide that they wanna be big stars like the act we paid to see. This is extremely wack.

5-LEARN TO WORK THE MIC- It seems simple enough, but apparently for many artists the simple task of holding a microphone correctly alludes them.

BONUS RULE-STOP YELLING ‘EVERYBODY SAY ‘HO’

We agree with all of the above except for the bonus rule. No more shouting "ho!"? What's next, no more "the roof, the roof, the roof is on fire?" Blasphemy!

By the way, Davey does include a short list of acts that don't suck on stage, including, "KRS-One, Naughty by Nature, Outkast, Public Enemy, Kool Moe Dee, The Roots, Hiero and Run DMC." Woe be to those who don't make the cut.

---

Ironically, looks like the promoters for a Ghostface concert in Chicago needed to heed some of the advice. Normally, we wouldn't bother posting this up – fights at concerts are about as commonplace as weed smoking – but Pitchfork's reporting on this story is so in-depth (since they happened to have one of their writers in the crowd), it was worth noting.

The short story is this: a show last Friday in north Chicago got out of hand after fans had been waiting five hours for the headliner, Ghostface from the Wu-Tang Clan, to show up. Five hours may not be that bad if you're at an arena show and there are five opening acts but for a rap concert in a sport's bar, you're pretty much taxing the audience unnecessarily, especially after two opening acts. According to Pitchfork's Chris Kaskie, the impatient crowd began chanting, "Ghostface or bust." Someone stepped to stage ... and it wasn't Ghostface. Uh oh.

Instead, Tru Life, a recent Roc-A-Fella signee took the stage, the crowd started booing, Tru Life started to insult the crowd and Chicago (was this dude crazy?) and that's when all hell broke out. Tru Life and his boys began to throw full water bottles into the crowd, hitting some in the head so the crowd began to do the same back at Tru ... only this time, with beer bottles. This escalated into what can only be described as full-blown, glass-shattering (literally) chaos and according to Kaskie, "There was no help whatsoever [from security]. We were sitting ducks at the mercy of the people above."

Finally, the police had to be called in and threw everyone out ... which makes sense, though we're confused because Pitchfork also reports that "Ghostface did eventually perform later that night," but we'd like to know: where? To an empty bar?

Looks like we need an extra rule to add onto Davey's:

SIX: ARTISTS SHOULD NOT HIT AUDIENCE MEMBERS IN HEAD WITH WATER BOTTLES AND CROWDS SHOULD AVOID THROWING BEER BOTTLES AT ANYONE.

--O.W.

IS DICK CHENEY ABOUT TO RESIGN?

I am not a crook!

In case you're not a member of the Dick Cheney blogring, you might not have heard the rumor spreading fast through DC that Vice President Cheney will be resigning, in part because of his involvement in the Plame/CIA scandal.

Could we be days away from swearing in the first black and first female Vice President in the history of this country?

Might George W. Bush be elevated to the presidency?

Is Cheney so ill that he needs to be cryogenically frozen now, before he dies, in order for him to have the chance to spread evil in the 22nd century?

Are these recycled jokes about Bush and Cheney getting really tired?

--Junichi

THE CULTURE WAR

The ultimate diversionary tactic?

Joshua Holland has written a thoughtful, provocative piece on the Bush agenda behind Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers. He makes several interesting arguments: (1) It isn't in the GOP's interest to actually overturn Roe v. Wade; (2) Besides, abortion is already severely restricted in most parts of the country; (3) Regardless, this whole abortion debate distracts from the corporate interests that are certain to flourish if Miers is approved; and (4) The left should be (more?) concerned with how Miers might rule on other issues such as separation of powers, consumer rights, and the environment.

In other words, Bush is playing everyone for a sucka-ass sucka.

(By the way, his piece was written before today's predictable revelation that Miers pledged support in 1989 for a constitutional amendment that would ban abortions. But I don't think this news would change Holland's analysis.)

I certainly plead guilty to caring the most about Miers's stance on whether a woman has a right to continue her pregnancy. Holland is right to point out that the abortion debate distracts from our discussion of other important issues. No doubt, I am concerned with how any Bush appointee would rule on issues like civil rights (e.g., affirmative action, imigrant rights, equal protection for gays and lesbians), civil liberties (e.g., Patriot Act II, consumer privacy), criminal procedure, employment/labor issues, and broader concerns of federalism and consumer rights.

But I don't regret focusing on abortion. I disagree with his claim that the GOP would not actually overturn Roe v. Wade. If the Republicans eliminated a woman's constitutional right to reproductive choice, they would earn the lifelong loyalty of social conservatives and create a momentum, as well as an omnipotent-feeling minority, that would try to snuff out everything from gay rights to scientific research. This extremism may cost the GOP some moderate votes, but it won't cost them elections ... until the Democrats actually propose a clear platform upon which to stand.

Here's an excerpt of Holland's article:

Imagine nominating a sycophantic nobody just when your poll numbers have given the mainstream media a by-your-leave to turn on the heat for your cronyism and machine politics. Imagine nominating a sycophantic nobody with a record thin and ambiguous enough to piss off suspicious activists of all stripes.

And imagine being smug in your knowledge that you'll get away with it. Bush's fellow Republicans will grumble -- the National Review will editorialize about how little regard you've shown towards those high-quality conservatives they've been cultivating at the Federalist Society and George Will might kvetch in the Washington Post, but at the end of the day they will buckle under and follow their Fearless Leader.

Harriet Miers -- and probably John Roberts, too -- will make suckers out of all of us by respecting the precedent (superprecedent!) of Roe v. Wade. Meaning the joke will be on ... everyone!

That's because the dirty secret is that the last thing the Republican leadership wants to do is overturn Roe. It would mark the beginning of the end for them and they know it.

Where would the GOP be without the specter of godless, baby-killing liberals keeping its base awake at night? Gone would be the their most potent organizing issue, the source of their passion advantage. Gone too would be the apathy of those on the left and center-left -- poof! It would be the end of their suburban "security moms." Young women would begin to realize that maybe, just maybe, thinking of oneself as a feminist isn't the worst thing in the world.

...

What's more, social conservatives are doing a bang-up job of restricting reproductive rights with Roe in place, toiling away under the radar. According to the National Abortion Rights Action League, 714 anti-abortion measures were considered by state legislatures in 2004, almost a third more than in 2003. Eighty-seven percent of American counties have no abortion providers. Why stir up a debate when you're doing just fine restricting choice on the QT?

If I'm correct, the religious right will find themselves, yet again, having been played for suckers. Again they get plenty of wagging gums from their favorite Republican politicians, especially around election time, but as usual that doesn't mean anyone's going to spend real political capital on their issues once the votes are cast.

... (read the rest here)

--Junichi

QUESTION OF THE WEEK #28

Hold Me Now (Like A Salt Shaker)

This Week's Question:

If you could force any two living artists to collaborate and record a song, whom would you choose?

--Junichi

ON THE STREETS OF AMERICA

Humorous, depressing, or horrifying? Discuss.

(Credit: Banamrs)

--Junichi

GOIN' CRAZY OVER THE SNOWMAN

the hottest logo since the yellow smiley face
Hey, we like Young Jeezy too but as Gawker points out, the NY Times loves him so much they've already dedicated two separate articles to discussing his snowman logo. (And they say Southern artists don't always play big in NYC). Out here in Cali, I haven't seen folks rocking this on the regular yet but I can only assume NYC is flooded with bootleg tees sporting Jeezy's ice-grilled, armless Frosty...enough so that, as the foremost publication for the cultural elite (and I don't mean this in a bad way), the Times feels like it's their duty to translate what's going on for all the Upper East Siders and Wall Streeters.

Mind you...there's nothing wrong with that and it can make for a decent read on a Thursday morning or what not but in Kelefa Sanneh's article from yesterday, I wonder if it's really necessary to break it down under the auspices of "cracking the code" (as the article was entitled). Provided, I don't expect anyone who doesn't know Jeezy to be able to make the following connections: thugged-out snowman = allusion to drug dealing, but it takes all about five seconds to know what Jeezy is talking about when he boasts that he's the snowman. It's not like you need a PhD in Clipseology to get cocaine references (note: Tony Yayo's last name is not actually "Yayo" either and Scarface is not named after Seal) and more to the point, Sanneh is suggesting that the snowman - and other metaphors - are a way of insinuating taboo comments into mainstream media.

I might have bought that, say, 20 years ago. In Tricia Rose's Black Noise she talks about hip-hop's "hidden transcripts," i.e. ways in which hip-hop hides meanings and alternative commentary between the lines, but in 2005, rappers pretty much get to say what they want. I mean, when "Wait" has a radio edit (mind-boggling) and "Grindin'" is a huge hit (note: the Clipse were not talking about making hamburgers), we're sort of past the "hidden transcript" and more at the level of "pretty clear statements." Sure, slang is a way of saying things in a coded manner but it's not so much code for the sake of obfuscation but coding as a way to be clever and stylish. I guess the Clipse, for example, could have cut a song called "Dealin'" but frankly, it just doesn't sound as good.

By the way: I don't know if they're allowing school kids to rock the snowman logo but apparently, in Indiana, you can't wear a tribute to "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott.

--O.W.

AIN'T NO BETTA BLUES - THE MOVIE

Where Spike ended up after trying to get studio funding

Spike Lee is starting production on a documentary, "When the Levee Broke," which focuses on the intersection of race and politics in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

I'm glad he is doing this, although I'm not confident about his ability to get the backing and distribution muscle of a major studio. This may be another "Malcolm X," perhaps.

I am anxious of the inevitable backlash or attack on the film. I feel I need to prepare my talking points now. Who wants to co-author "101 Ways Dubya Doesn't Care About Black People" with me?

Regarding the doc's provisional title, I like the Led Zeppelin reference, although I would've preferred "Bush: Not Doing The Right Thing."

--Junichi

WHEN SHALL THE POOR INHERIT THE EARTH?

Children receive aid in Muzaffarabad, Kashmir

Bear with me as I wax philosophical for a second. I've been reading about the earthquake and aftershocks in central Asia, struggling to express coherent thoughts.

It's overwhelming to absorb how many natural disasters have killed, injured, and/or dislocated how many thousands of people this year:

• 170,000 people dead in Indonesia/Sri Lanka/India/Thailand and other countries in southeast Asia from the tsunami
  

• Over 1000 Americans dead from Hurricane Katrina

• A million Chinese evacuated from Typhoon Longwang
  

• and now, another 80,000 people in Pakistan/India/Afghanistan from the recent earthquakes
  

All four of the above disasters hammer home the reality that our planet's poorest people -- whether in Myanmar or Mississippi -- are the ones most vulnerable and affected by Mother Nature's wrath.

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING...


I could also include the tens of thousands of Iraqi and Afghani citizens killed + the hundreds of American soldiers sacrificed by our government in the war + the million people who will die of AIDS by December.

It still wouldn't alter the message: thus far, in my lifetime, 2005 is the most tragic year for the poor and underprivileged.

Others who attempt to find meaning out of these disasters seem to be missing this point.

I appreciate Kurt Vonnegut's recent statement: "I think the earth's immune system is trying to get rid of us, and it's high time they did. My goodness, we are a disease on the face of this planet. You know, after two world wars and the Holocaust, and Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and, well, the Roman games and the Spanish Inquisition, and the burning of women in public squares. It's time we got out of here."

But the reality is that even if Earth's immune system is trying to get rid of us, the rich -- arguably, the ones responsible for most man-made tragedies -- aren't the ones being wiped off the planet.

This all leaves me with the question: if there is a God and if God has a purpose for everything, then what's the plan here?

--Junichi

FALL ALBUM PREVIEW

well, it worked for eminem
Rolling Stone previews the Top 20 anticipated albums for the fall. I plucked out four for discussion.

1) Burt Bacharach's All This Time (Nov 1). Bacharach is one of the greatest American songwriters alive (think "Walk On By," and "The Look of Love") and on this album, he's teaming up with folks like Elvis Costello, Rufus Wainwright and ... Dr. Dre? "I'm a big fan of Dre's. The guy gets the most unbelievable sounds." Much as I like Burt AND Dre, we're just a little skeptical as to what the pairing might sound like but Bacharach plus Wainwright? Golden.

2) 50 Cent's Get Rich Or Die Tryin' Soundtrack (Nov 8). Some of you may have heard about this little known rapper with a small cult following and apparently, there will be some kind of art house bio-pic coming about him featuring new songs. Seriously though, 50 already has this year's best-selling rap album with The Massacre ... I can only imagine how many (G)units the soundtrack to his new movie is going to score.

3) Jamie Foxx's Unpredictable (Nov 22). He's got an Oscar for playing a musician but will that translate into Billboard love? Foxx is no Eddie Murphy when it comes to his actual musical talent: he can sing, he can play instruments and when you have Kanye West and Pharrell Williams on your production team, good things tend to happen. Still, it's hard to say if Foxx can really become a legend in two games but you can't fault him for his ambition. I hear he's trying out for the Joffrey too.

4) OutKast's Idlewild (Dec 6). It's a musical film. By OutKast. With a lot of jazz music. I am so game.

--O.W.

TOP 25 TV THEME SONGS OF ALL TIME

What else would be #1, you big dummy?

After debilitating and deafening internal debate, I have finalized my Top 25 list of Best Television Theme Songs of All Time.

Completing a list of this magnitude is a herculean task for me. For a decade (no joke), I've struggled with what theme songs to include, agitated over what to put at #1, and agonized over every cut.

As for my selection criteria, I considered any song from a regular TV series -- sitcoms, dramas, cartoons, news programs, game shows, etc. -- across all decades. However, I did not consider songs from non-series TV specials (e.g., Vince Guaraldi's "Linus and Lucy" from the Peanuts cartoon specials).

I also excluded any theme songs that were already existing songs prior to the introduction of the television show -- e.g., Dido's "Here With Me" (for Roswell), R.E.M.'s "Stand" (for Get A Life), Psapp's "Cosy in the Rocket" (for Grey's Anatomy), Phantom Planet's "California" (for The O.C.).

I also tried to isolate the good theme songs from those tunes that merely get stuck in my head. I've probably hummed Nell Carter's "Gimme A Break" or Marla Gibbs's "227" intro more than any other tune on this list, but I don't think that makes them great theme songs.

Finally, it goes without saying that I tried to ignore the extent to which I like the actual show. (Otherwise, the theme from Arrested Development would be at the top of this list, since that show is clearly the best that television has to offer.)

Without any further delay, here is my Top 25 TV Theme Songs of All Time:

1. Sanford & Son ("The Streetbeater") - Quincy Jones
2. Six Feet Under - Thomas Newman
3. Greatest American Hero ("Believe it or Not") - Mike Post and Stephen Geyer
4. NBC Nightly News Theme - John Williams
5. Theme from The A-Team - Mike Post / P. Carpenter
6. Wonder Woman - Norman Gimbel and Charles Fox
7. Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? ("Is That Your Final Answer?") - Keith & Matthew Strachan
8. The Jeffersons ("Movin' on Up") - Jeff Barry and Ja'net Dubois
9. ABC Monday Night Football (early 1970s version) - Charles Fox
10. Family Ties ("Without Us") - Jeff Barry and Tom Scott
11. The Price is Right - Edd Kalehoff
12. Knight Rider - Glen Larson
13. The People's Court - Alan Stanley Tew
14. Fall Guy ("The Unknown Stuntman") - Glen A Larson, Gail Jensen, and David Sommerville
15. The Amazing Race - John Keane
16. Golden Girls ("Thank You for Being a Friend") - Andrew Gold
17. Scooby Doo - H. Curtin/W. Hanna/J. Barbera
18. Good Times - Dave Grusin and Andrew Bergman
19. In Living Color - Heavy D
20. Moonlighting - Al Jarreau
21. The Simpsons - Danny Elfman
22. Silver Spoons ("Together") - Bob Wirth and Rik Howard
23. Magnum P.I. - Mike Post
24. The Streets Of San Francisco - Pat Williams
25. Ren & Stimpy ("Dog Pound Hop") - Screamin Lederhosen & Phil Feather

Comment away.

--Junichi

LIVING LARGE IN VEGAS

Sumo wrestlers perform the ancient Shinto ritual of raising the roof

Las Vegas is the cultural equivalent of the 7-Eleven suicide drink (all fountain drinks + all Slurpee flavors mixed into one cup).

Hence it made perfect sense that my family and I would walk over Venetian canals, through the Imperial Palace, under the Eiffel Tower, near the soon-to-be Hooters Casino Hotel, and past some Elvis impersonators and "Men in Black" slot machines to see an official Shinto ritual and traditional form of combat that dates back 1500 years.

Yes, we had tickets for the final day of the Grand Sumo Championship tournament at Mandalay Bay, the first official sumo event to take place in the United States in twenty years.

I've watched sumo wrestling matches before on NHK television, Japan's PBS, with my dad, who watches them religiously. But seeing the action live helped me appreciate the strength, agility, balance, and flexibility of these wrestlers, typically mocked in the United States as fat people in diapers.

It was great to sit next to Pops; he cited statitsics and trivia about wrestlers with bizarre ease. However, it was not great to constantly lose bets to him, as he correctly predicted that the current yokozuna (highest-ranked champion) -- 25 year old, 320-pound Asashoryu from Mongolia -- would dominate the other 38 top-ranked rikishi.

The highlight, however, was watching wrestler Takamisakari -- nicknamed "Robocop" -- and his pre-bout antics, which involve the repeated Stooge-like slapping of his head and pounding of his chest. He seems to be the Terrell Owens of sumo,but with less Sharpies.

The other highlight was when it was somehow quiet enough for one guy to yell, "Konnichiwa!" loud enough to cause everyone in Mandalay Bay to chuckle.

Finally, we happened to spot and take photos with one of the sumo wrestlers, Tosanoumi, who was heading for the blackjack tables after the tournament. This picture captures the essence of how the Japanese worship the sumo wrestlers: my dad seems to be staring up at him the way little awe-struck kids do when they first see Mickey Mouse at Disneyland.

Yoisho!

--Junichi

QUESTION OF THE WEEK #27

Oh God, my hippie parents are teaching me "Elimination Communication."

This Week's Question:

Should we follow the advice of the DiaperFreeBaby Organization and potty train babies before they're even able to walk or talk?

Background: An increasing number of American parents are embracing the practice of infant potty training, sometimes referred to as "Elimination Communication," "Natural Infant Hygiene," or "Fresh Chocolate Pudding Alert." Intended to decrease dependence on diapers, the process involves observing a baby's signs and signals.

Proponents argue that this is environmentally correct, plus you save thousands of dollars in diapers, avoid diaper rash, and develop strong baby-parent bonds.

Critics point out that this exhaustive practice requires parents/guardians to supervise as many as twenty "deposits" a day. Moreover, Dr. Spock counsels against any potty training in the first year as he believes it could lead to rebellion later through bedwetting.

FYI: This practice is much more common abroad; more than 50% of the world's children are toilet trained by the time they turn one year old.

--Junichi

DIRECTED BY DESIRE: A TRIBUTE TO JUNE JORDAN

The complete collection + new poems

Shameless plug alert! For those in NYC - check it:

A TRIBUTE TO THE WORK OF JUNE JORDAN

Tomorrow, Thursday, October 6th - 7:30 P.M

Scheduled to Perform: Cornelius Eady * Laura Flanders * Joy Harjo * Bob Holman * Yusef Komunyakaa * Jan Heller Levi * Donna Masini * Sara Miles * Honor Moore * Shelagh Patterson * Adrienne Rich * Junichi Semitsu * and others.

Hunter College, The Danny Kaye Theatre
695 Park Avenue, NYC
(68th Street, between Park and Lexington Avenues)

Sponsored by the Poetry Society of America

In celebration of the recent publication of one of the finest works of poetry ever: Directed by Desire: Collected Poems, published by Copper Canyon Press.

Admission is $12/$7 for PSA Members and Students.

Call the box office at 212-772-4448 to reserve a ticket.

Co-sponsored by Cave Canem, Copper Canyon Press, and The Hunter College Graduate Writing Program

Come say hi.

--Junichi

NOMINATING HARRIET MIERS: IS BUSH BRILLIANT OR BLACKMAILED?

If you don't appoint me, Mr. President, I will disclose these arrest records.

It's too early to reach any conclusions, but I have a few thoughts on G-Dub's nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court:

1. Bush said of his choice, "I picked the best person I could find." Really? Your own former personal lawyer and staff secretary is the best person you could find? Who conducted the search -- Harriet Miers? Or the same head of the intelligence network that allegedly found WMDs in Iraq? Or do I repeat myself? This reminds me of when Dick Cheney headed the 2000 search for Bush's VP candidate and chose himself.

I'm surprised Bush didn't nominate his wife.

Needless to say, hundreds of judges and lawyers, including myself, remain insulted. At least she has experience in the law, as opposed to say, experience only in managing the Arabian Horse Association.

2. Not only is Miers an obvious Bush loyalist and a pimp of corporate interests, but she was the person who apparently helped hide Bush's drunk driving arrest. She also orchestrated the disappearance of his National Guard records.

She is, literally, the best friend that every guilty person wants: a buddy who pretends to be your alibi when you have an affair or kill someone. Needless to say, Bush is indebted to her, which explains the nomination. Or, perhaps, she blackmailed him into nominating her!

3. For those who haven't read this elsewhere, the above photograph was taken on August 6, 2001. Harriet Miers is the woman in the picture seen helping the president to pronounce the multisyllabic words on his daily "Stuff You Should Probably Know" briefings.

Interestingly, August 6, 2001 is also the day that Dubya ignored the Presidential Daily Briefing that indicated that Osama bin Laden was planning to attack the United States.

4. Bush's pick seems to please nobody. But is Bush brilliant? Did he appoint his personal lawyer to be on the Court so that she will secure the votes necessary to uphold the legality of a blueprint for mega-evil that he has in store? Will she ensure that the judicial branch keep horrific Bush-implicating secrets buried? Am I watching too many conspiracy movies?

5. It's interesting that many on the left and the right are essentially saying the same thing: (1) they're not thrilled with Miers, (2) her qualifications are questionable and fail to overcome the charges of obvious cronyism, (3) her nomination indicates Bush's waning strength, and (4) she must be forced to reveal her actual views at the Senate hearings.

If the right wing is frustrated with her, should those of us on the left support her? After all, if she is rejected, Bush could easily nominate a justice more in the mold of Scalia -- someone like Judge Michael Luttig who will be a reactionary giftbasket to the religious right.


Comment away.

--Junichi

UNFORTUNATE NAMES FOR NATURAL DISASTERS

Wade in China

If it weren't for the fact that 15 people have died, dozens are missing, and almost a million people have been forced to evacuate, there would be something amusing about the name of what's causing so much flooding and destruction right now in China: Typhoon Longwang.

By the way, here's a piece of trivia for everyone: Oliver Wang's last name was originally Longwang, but he had it shortened.

But seriously, where's the coverage?

--Junichi

QUESTION OF THE WEEK #26

Thank you, Sally, from Accounts Receivable, for processing my expense report.

This Week's Question:

Your employer's sexual harassment policy states that employees should not engage in "hugging," as it may contribute to a hostile working environment. Is a "no-hugging" policy going too far? Or would you be happy about a ban on workplace hugs?


FYI: At a sexual harassment training session I recently attended, the workshop leader suggested that supervisors should never hug their employees.

--Junichi

MS. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON

All rise

Each year, the Supreme Court receives almost 8,000 petitions per year. The Justices only agree to hear (a.k.a. grant the writ of certiorari with regard to) a mere 80 cases, about 1% of the total requests. The high court only reviews those cases that raise issues of national importance or provide the chance to set a nationally uniform rule that settles divided legal authority.

Which is to say - holy mother of Satan's poop chute - I can't believe the highest court in the land just agreed to hear the Anna Nicole Smith inheritance case.

Only in America does a newly-appointed head of the judicial branch begin his lifetime (I predict half a century) tenure by hearing arguments over whether a famed Trimspa spokeswoman and Playboy centerfold is the rightful heir of the millions from the estate of her elderly lover whose octogenerian cullions she lovingly nurtured for a good eight months until he died.

I don't know which justice pushed to hear Anna Nicole's case. But I can say that when I see CNN's headline for this news story -- "Playmate Appeals to Supreme Court" -- I think of Justice Clarence Thomas.

Anna Nicole Smith is apparently planning to attend the oral arguments. It's too bad she's not arguing the case herself. I saw her reality show and know that her brain, which can generously be described as inactive and comatosely retarded, would explode if forced to discuss the issue in this case: whether the probate exception to federal court jurisdiction only allows state courts to hear estate-settlement cases.

It's hard to predict how the Court will rule. But I can say with confidence that Chief Justice Roberts will take away her right to an abortion.

One final note: I am not a legal historian, but I am certain that Anna Nicole Smith is the only SCOTUS ligitant whose chest has been reported to have exploded.

--Junichi