January 28, 2010

Chris Matthews is Not Racist

I hope this has a short shelf life. Some are calling Chris Matthews’ comments following President Obama’s State of the Union address racist and insensitive.

Referring to the president he said: “I forgot he was black tonight for an hour.”

I don’t spot any obvious racism. Matthews admits not once thinking about the color of the man giving this incredibly long speech. He was colorblind. I thought that was the goal, The Dream of MLK. Only after the speech did Matthews register race. But in a positive way like “Wow we have really evolved since I was a kid.” The problem can’t be the stating of facts, right?–Obama is black and he’s our president?

I’ve read comments like “Matthews said that he has a different expectation of blacks.” Not true. He didn’t say nor imply “great speech…for a black guy”! I believe people who find it racist might be bringing their own issues to the fight or are just oversensitive.

My favorite thread is “If Rush or Hannity said it they’d be crucified.” Not this time. Coming from them it would be a surprising endorsement of Obama. Some of their haters might even applaud them.

Chris Matthews Sets Internet Ablaze Mashable

January 28, 2010

Obama’s Lucky Tie (Again)

I wasn’t surprised that the president wore a red and white diagonal striped tie for his big speech. It’s his lucky look. I’ve written about it before here and here

This one might be new. I’m pretty sure I haven’t seen it during another big speech. But the hue is the same.

Obama’s Red & White Fashion Show
DNC Acceptance speech
Election Night
Inauguration Day
First Address to Congress Feb 2009
Health Care speech to Congress Sept 2009
State of the Union 2010

January 27, 2010

Apple Launches the iPad

Steve Jobs (still skinny but we guess healthy?) announced his company’s latest innovation — The iPad. All jokes aside about Maxi Pads I like “iPad” way better than iSlate or many other rumored names.

Everyone refers to it as the “Apple Tablet”–that’s what I really like. I’m kind of sick of the “i–” nomenclature and “tablet” is much better than “pad.”

But I digress, here’s the key info:

Pricing was a surprise in it being relatively low vs. expectations. Though adding 3G costs some. If  like me you have an iPhone in your pocket do you really need it? What about 4G?

- DIMENSIONS: 9.5 inches x 7.5 inches x 0.5 inches

- WEIGHT: 1.5 pounds (1.6 pounds for 3G)

- MEMORY: Three models with 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB solid state hard drives.
- INCLUDES: Accelerometer, Microphone, 30-pin connector, Compass, full capacitive multi-touch, Bluetooth 2.1, 802.11n Wi-Fi, 3G access on higher-end models

I’m into it. But my expectations are in check. It’s not a computer so much as a large iPhone or web surfing device. At this point it couldn’t replace my MacBook on a long day away from home or weekend trip. It helps to have Apps for iWork’s Keynote, Numbers and Pages. But since most workplaces are MS Office there enters the imitations.

In any case it’s a kick ass product that will spawn competitors and new businesses economies. Apple’s hopes are that it changes the way we live and consume media. It certainly is “future cool,” like something we dreamed in the 1990s to have in the far-off 2010’s. I can’t wait for iPad gen 2, 3, etc when its perfected.

January 25, 2010

Kanye Calls Taylor Swift at Haiti Telethon

It didn’t happen. But I wish Kanye West had called Taylor Swift on live TV during the Haiti Telethon.

I would overdub a fake VO on top the clip if I had editing skills (and draw a better lightning bolt if I cared). Here’s the call transcript:

Taylor: Hope for Haiti. This is Taylor Swift.

Kanye: Yo Taylor, it’s Kanye!

(Taylor in stunned silence)

Kanye: Why wasn’t I invited? I’m the voice of the generation. It’s the most offended I’ve ever been this decade!

(Taylor keeps looking down)

Kanye: You know I own live TV! Remember when I said Austin Powers don’t care about black people?

(Taylor doesn’t know what to say)

Kanye: What? You were in junior high then? I’m calling to heal Haiti with my new song. Imma let you and the world hear it on the phone.

(Taylor blinks “S.O.S.” to the cameras but all we notice are how thick her lashes are)

Kanye: Yeah my music isn’t just music–it’s medicine.

Taylor: Awww thank you so much.

Kanye: Next Tuesday the first round of Buffalo Blasts® are on me!

Taylor: That’s wonderful.

Kanye: I’ll bring my new assistant–Shilah.

Taylor: Thank you so much and please tell Shilah that I said hello and to stay strong.

Incredibly stupid and juvenile I know. The last few lines were less funny but an attempt to match what Taylor Swift actually said.

January 24, 2010

Olbermann Declared Nuts by The Daily Show

Thank you John Stewart. I’ve never liked Keith Olbermann. Even when I agree with his politics his smarminess gets under my skin. Lately he’s gone way off the rails and The Daily Show took note.

January 24, 2010

Haiti Hits #3 Justin Timberlake and some Echo Park Hipster

“Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen. Incredibly hard to sing but if pulled off always a home run. Jeff Buckley’s version is the most well-known. Here’s Justin Timberlake’s take.

He’s at the piano, heavily bearded to match his guitar buddy. That guy looks like every hipster-in-winter I see around Echo Park and Silver Lake. What’s with those hats? He’s actually the son of a country star, a former Micky Mouse club member and hit songwriter for Christina Aquilera and Justin himself.

January 24, 2010

Haiti Hits #2: Jay Z, Rihanna and Half of U2

Bono and Jay Z teaming up to write a song had disaster written all over it. Those poor Haitians needn’t suffer more with a thrown together vanity piece of crap in their name. Like the Minnesota Vikings enduring Prince’s anthem.

BUT I ended up humming this tune all day. Especially the Rihanna chorus “Not gonna leee-aaa-ve ya stranded.” Jay Z’s style of rapping was tailor made for The Edge’s patented guitar slides.

January 24, 2010

Haiti Hits: Sting Driven to Tears

The Hope for Haiti telethon aired on Friday. Many of music’s most famous and most likely to attend benefits were on hand–Sting, Bono, Alicia Keyes, Stevie Wonder and “The Boss”– You can count on them to come together to aid any catastrophe. Kind of like the superhero Justice League, but with guitars.

So I was prepared to be bored by the same old guys. But several performances perked me up with surprise.

Here’s Haiti Hits #1: Sting with a jazzy number backed by The Roots.

I LOVE the guitar solo at the 1:50 mark (song itself starts at :12)

Who is that guitarist? That red and black guitar he’s playing is wicked too.

January 17, 2010

Golden Globes TV Predictions

TV is much harder to predict at the Golden Globes. But remember they often go for the new hot thing, meaning Glee. In these picks I’m doing no research to see who won before so I’ll probably be way off.

BEST TELEVISION SERIES, DRAMA
Big Love
Dexter
House
Mad Men
True Blood

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES, DRAMA
Glenn Close, Damages
January Jones, Mad Men
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Anna Paquin, True Blood
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES, DRAMA
Simon Baker, The Mentalist
Michael C. Hall, Dexter * Votes cast before the cancer announcement
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Hugh Laurie, House
Bill Paxton, Big Love

BEST TELEVISION SERIES, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
30 Rock
Entourage
Glee
Modern Family
The Office

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Toni Collette, United States of Tara
Courteney Cox, Cougar Town
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Lea Michele, Glee

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Steve Carell, The Office
David Duchovny, Californication
Thomas Jane, Hung
Matthew Morrison, Glee

BEST MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Georgia O’Keefe
Grey Gardens
Into the Storm
Little Dorrit
Taking Chance

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Joan Allen, Georgia O’Keefe
Drew Barrymore, Grey Gardens
Jessica Lange, Grey Gardens * or Drew Barrymore for the same film
Anna Paquin, The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler
Sigourney Weaver, Prayers for Bobby

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Kevin Bacon, Taking Chance
Kenneth Branagh, Wallander: One Step Behind
Chiewetel Ejiofor, Endgame
Brendan Gleeson, Into the Storm
Jeremy Irons, Georgia O’Keefe

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Jane Adams, Hung
Rose Byrne, Damages
Jane Lynch, Glee
Janet McTeer, Into the Storm
Chloe Sevigny, Big Love

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Michael Emerson, Lost
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother -*Sucks its comedies vs dramas in category
William Hurt, Damages
John Lithgow, Dexter
Jeremy Piven, Entourage

January 17, 2010

Golden Globes Movie Predictions

Let me log my predictions here quick as the show is about to start. Some of my picks depend on if the actors are in attendance or not. Like I think Robert Downey Jr. will win for “Sherlock Holmes” like Johnny Depp did years ago for “Pirates.” But only if he’s there to accept. If not then it goes to “A Serious Man”

Prediction in bold

BEST MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA
Avatar;
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious
Up in the Air

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA
Emily Blunt, The Young Victoria
Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
Helen Mirren, The Last Station
Carey Mulligan, An Education
Gabourey Sidibe, Precious

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA
Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
George Clooney, Up in the Air* But if he’s not there, Jeff Bridges wins
Colin Firth, A Single Man
Morgan Freeman, Invictus
Tobey Maguire, Brothers

BEST MOTION PICTURE, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
(500) Days of Summer
The Hangover
It’s Complicated
Julie & Julia
Nine

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Sandra Bullock, The Proposal
Marion Cotillard, Nine
Julia Roberts, Duplicity
Meryl Streep, It’s Complicated
Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE, COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Matt Damon, The Informant!
Daniel Day-Lewis, Nine
Robert Downey Jr., Sherlock Holmes * If he’s not in attendance, Stuhlbarg wins
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, (500) Days of Summer
Michael Stuhlbarg, A Serious Man

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
Coraline
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Princess and the Frog
Up

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Penalope Cruz, Nine
Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air
Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air
Mo’Nique, Precious
Julianne Moore, A Single Man

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Matt Damon, Invictus
Woody Harrelson, The Messenger
Christopher Plummer, The Last Station
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds

BEST DIRECTOR
Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
James Cameron, Avatar
Clint Eastwood, Invictus
Jason Reitman, Up in the Air
Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds

BEST SCREENPLAY
Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell, District 9
Mark Boal, The Hurt Locker
Nancy Meyers, It’s Complicated
Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner, Up in the Air
Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds

December 20, 2009

Hot Tub Time Machine

Coming to theaters in March – Hot Tub Time Machine. Yup that’s the title.

John Cusack, Rob Corddry (The Daily Show), Craig Robinson (The Office) and some other dude get wasted, pile into a hot tub and time travel back to 1986. Basically a recurring fantasy of mine (minus the male bonding).

They can invent iPods, the Prius, Twitter. Put me down for that a 10,000-1 bet on Mike Tyson vs. Buster Douglas. What would you do?

Trailer #2 – Red Band (offensive language)

Woah…Crispin Glover is in it?! I wonder if he will homage Back to the Future or reenact that classic Letterman meltdown?

December 17, 2009

Who Would You Rather?

Sarah Jessica Parker VS. Mary Steenburgen

SJP: Born March 25, 1965
Steenburgen: Born Feb, 8 1953

December 13, 2009

Tucked In Boots OK for Guys?

The look that I see on many women – tight leggings or jeans tucked into boots – is smoking hot.  I know it’s not a new style or anything. To me it gives women a sexy, modern, and tough appeal. Like a superhero, witness below:

I’ve wondered if there was something similarly cool and slick for guys and boots? Or if there would be one day.

Finally now some guys are trying to tuck in their boots….but I don’t think we’re there yet.


(Source: Just Jared) Timberlake spending some of his DirectTV money on combat boots. Not good because the pants puff out like the old Star Trek uniforms.

Will.i.am is a dud in these Prince Valiant boots. I remember some 80s stoners in junior high who had those boots too.

And the worst offender (on many counts) is Chris Brown on the cover of his new album.

At least he ditched the ball caps to dress like an adult. Too bad he chose to be a female adult. Did he steal that outfit from Rihanna?

November 27, 2009

Kill the Clowns

Even the best comedies resort to standard gags and set-ups. Like this week’s normally awesome Modern Family where Phil (the doofus father) reveals he’s terrified of clowns. Maybe funny a few sitcoms ago but stale now. Besides outside of comedies how many adults really have that fear? Clowns in general are tired in comedy in my view.

Another overused bit is to have a guy date someone with Tourette’s Syndrome and then they start cursing uncontrollably. Old before Deuce Bigalow and writers are still using it!

What else?

November 26, 2009

Planet Terror: “24’s” Decade From Hell

In the real world we remain scarred by 9/11 and thankful for no further attacks. Yet the poor people of  TV’s 24 have endured enough terrorism, assassination and corruption for our Decade From Hell to be nothing but screwball fun.

This nerdy list documents the big bad news of Planet 24. A few nukes, lots of presidents (six of them during three terms) and thousands of conspiracies.

Year One – All this happens on the day of the California presidential primary

  • A commercial airliner is blown up over the California desert.
  • Several assassination attempts on Senator David Palmer, the proto-Obama presidential candidate.
  • Sen. Palmer reveals his son was involved in an accidental death years ago. But he still wins the CA primary.

18 Months Later (Season Two) – In the interim Sen. Palmer becomes the first black president and divorces his wife. Another historical first.

  • The Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) headquarters in LA is bombed by terrorists.
  • Civil unrest in parts of the country. Some attacks on Muslims from rumors of a terrorist bomb explosion. (No one knows a nuke blew up in the CA desert!) The National Guard restores peace.
  • President Palmer temporarily removed from office by vote of Cabinet. The vice-president briefly carries out presidential duties.
  • Assassination attempt on Pres. Palmer in LA leaving him infected with biotoxins.

Three Years Go By (Season Three)The President, still bearing scars from the bio attack, is facing re-election.

  • A presidential debate is interrupted by reports of a terrorist threat.
  • Pres. Palmer surprisingly drops out of the presidential race right before the election.
  • Former first lady Sherry Palmer is killed in an LA apartment under mysterious circumstances.

18 Months Later (Season Four)The Keeler/Logan (Republicans?) team wins the presidency over whomever was scrambled to take Palmer’s place on the ticket.

  • A commuter train crashes in California killing dozens.
  • Air Force One carrying the president is shot down. The vice-president Charles Logan takes the oath of office as the president is unable to serve.

8 More Months Later (Season Five) - Charles Logan (Gregory Itzin) still serves as president. We guess President Keeler died or remains incapacitated like Israel’s Ariel Sharon.

  • Former President David Palmer is shot and killed in LA. No one ever finds who did it and theories abound.
  • Russian separatist terrorist take over an LA-area airport and execute several hostages on live TV.
  • Terrorist fire missle at the Russian president’s motorcade in Los Angeles.
  • Nerve gas is released by terrorists in an LA mall killing approximately 10-20.
  • Terrorists execute a nerve gas attack on CTU headquarters killing dozens.
  • A Natural Gas plant is exploded in Los Angeles by terrorists but a greater threat is averted.
  • Martial law declared in Los Angeles by the president.
  • Charles Logan removed as president for high crimes. Hal Gardner, the VP becomes the unprecedented third man to serve as president during one term.

Two Years Later (Season Six)In the time away the disgraced ex-President Logan pleads guilty to obstruction of justice. The nation elects Wayne Palmer, younger brother of the late Pres. David Palmer.

  • The US is suffering through 11 weeks of domestic terrorism. Suicide bombers have killed dozens in malls, buses and other public places.
  • The first ever nuke attack on US soil! Muslim terrorists detonate a nuclear suitcase bomb in Valencia, CA killing over 12,000.
  • President Wayne Palmer is critically wounded in a White House bunker explosion. Muslim terrorist leader is publicly blamed but public later learns of internal coup attempt.
  • The vice-president, Noah Daniels (Powers Boothe), assumes presidential duties.
  • Pres. Palmer is restored to office but later collapses during a live press conference from cerebral hemorrhage.
  • Daniels sworn in under the 25th Amendment. Sadly he will wind up completing the Palmer term.

Three and a Half Years Later (24:Redemption TV Movie) -

  • Inauguration Day for President Allison Taylor, the nation’s first female president.
  • The US Embassy in Sangala, a fictional African country, is evacuated by presidential order after a coup erupts.

Four Years Later (Season Seven) -Shortly after taking office the president’s son commits suicide (or so the public believes).

  • President Taylor (Cherry Jones) orders the “humanitarian” invasion of Sangala to restore its elected leader.
  • Terrorists take control of air traffic technology and crash a commercial plane in D.C.
  • The White House is attacked by General Juma from Sangala. He takes the president hostage and forces her to read a statement viewed by millions live on the web.
  • The FBI rescues the president in a massive firefight killing Gen. Juma.
  • The First Daughter is arrested for ordering the murder of Jonas Hodges, a private defense company CEO.

Imagine all The History Channel, 60 Minutes, books and Talk Radio that would develop from this blender of everything bad post-JFK amped on Adderall.