The BBC takes a look at whether the Belgian state will survive, and how it's at risk even if neither side actively seeks it.
While I've often said that Belgian devolution is a bit of a warning to what might happen to the United States, one thing that has yet to truly manifest in the US is ethnic political parties and exclusive ethnocultural pop culture. We do have--to some extent--ethnocentric pop culture (basic cable is full of examples of this), that pop culture is only part of the cultural diet of an average American. (In other words, LOGO and BET viewers feel completely comfortable watching ABC, NBC, etc.)
Still, one has to wonder what exactly binds us all together, beyond mere geography.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
From the "Snow Is Cold" File
Now, I hate to rag on the Journal Sentinel for doing a series on binge drinking--because it is a severe problem in Wisconsin--but I cannot believe that they thought feigning surprise at the fact that the problem is indeed that bad in Wisconsin was the right way to present it.
Our sodding baseball team is named the Brewers!
They play at Miller Park.
There was a sitcom set in Milwaukee about two women working at a brewery.
People (instate and out) know that binge drinking is bad in Wisconsin, but the real shocker is that so little is done to curb it.
Our sodding baseball team is named the Brewers!
They play at Miller Park.
There was a sitcom set in Milwaukee about two women working at a brewery.
People (instate and out) know that binge drinking is bad in Wisconsin, but the real shocker is that so little is done to curb it.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Could We Please Reverse This Trend
...of popsters from the Soviet Union joining up with hip-hop producers. First we had Dima Bilan screech his way to a Eurovision win with a song produced by Timbaland. Now, Missy Elliot has joined forces with Ruslana on the latter's new album.
It's not a total miss, but it's not a bullseye either.
It's not a total miss, but it's not a bullseye either.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Thursday Jukebox Is A Literalist
This hilarious take of Take On Me, illustrates my major irritation with writing screenplays*
* You do have to write everything that happens on screen.
* You do have to write everything that happens on screen.
Thank You, Joe
I opted not to watch the debate last night, so I wasn't privy to all the "Joe the plumber" nonsense.
So I had to play catch up today.
My assessment was that Joe was one of those "I got mine" types.
You know, the ones who basically got us all into this fine economic mess we are in.
Well, the chickens are coming home to roost, "Joe."
So I had to play catch up today.
My assessment was that Joe was one of those "I got mine" types.
You know, the ones who basically got us all into this fine economic mess we are in.
Well, the chickens are coming home to roost, "Joe."
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Wednesday Jukebox is so Sergey
As in Lazarev. As in he-who-should've-won-the-Russian-selection-this-year.
Oh well, it looks like he's carved out not too shabby pop career for himself. (God knows what would happen if Diddy got his hands on him...Donnie who?)
Sergey got his start out in the boyband Smash!! (a name which is now being recycled--without exclamation points--in Korea).
Smash!! wasn't too bad, but the only song I really cared for was Freeway. Here's a rather hilarious (and lip-synced) performance from 2003, followed by the original video.
Then he pretty much went solo. He got a UK release for his cover of Shattered Dreams. (I feel a degree of relief in knowing that I was not much older than Sergey when the original came out.)
Quite wisely, Sergey's single Fake featured a remix entitled "gay club mix"
His most recent album TV show featured the single TV or Radio, which shows that Sergey is game for physical comedy.
From an anglophone lyrical standpoint, Sergey is a very handsome man.
Lest this jukebox end in sarcasm, once again, here's Flyer.
By the way, Sergey has a diary on his website. (It's mostly in Russian, naturally.) Apparently on July 7th, he met Whitney Houston. Whitney is looking...better, and I'm not going to even attempt to read into Sergey's reaction in the photo, except to say "a picture tells a thousand words."
Oh well, it looks like he's carved out not too shabby pop career for himself. (God knows what would happen if Diddy got his hands on him...Donnie who?)
Sergey got his start out in the boyband Smash!! (a name which is now being recycled--without exclamation points--in Korea).
Smash!! wasn't too bad, but the only song I really cared for was Freeway. Here's a rather hilarious (and lip-synced) performance from 2003, followed by the original video.
Then he pretty much went solo. He got a UK release for his cover of Shattered Dreams. (I feel a degree of relief in knowing that I was not much older than Sergey when the original came out.)
Quite wisely, Sergey's single Fake featured a remix entitled "gay club mix"
His most recent album TV show featured the single TV or Radio, which shows that Sergey is game for physical comedy.
From an anglophone lyrical standpoint, Sergey is a very handsome man.
Lest this jukebox end in sarcasm, once again, here's Flyer.
By the way, Sergey has a diary on his website. (It's mostly in Russian, naturally.) Apparently on July 7th, he met Whitney Houston. Whitney is looking...better, and I'm not going to even attempt to read into Sergey's reaction in the photo, except to say "a picture tells a thousand words."
Another Minority Government?
The CBC is saying that the Tories are going to get another minority government.
Admittedly, I haven't been following the coverage as closely as last time, but as kind and cute as Dion is, the fact that he didn't have Celine in front of his name is part of the reason.
The second is that he's no Chretien.
Look for another Liberal leadership race soon.
Admittedly, I haven't been following the coverage as closely as last time, but as kind and cute as Dion is, the fact that he didn't have Celine in front of his name is part of the reason.
The second is that he's no Chretien.
Look for another Liberal leadership race soon.
Up is Down, Left is Right
I always thought Bush was going to do something left field while he was a lame duck, but when I was thinking "left field" as unexpected, not actually left-wing.
By the way, Newscorp, we do not need a special report on WWOR just because the Dow didn't crash.
By the way, Newscorp, we do not need a special report on WWOR just because the Dow didn't crash.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Yes, Darling
The UK's Chancellor of the Exchequer tells other G7 countries to start buying up banks.
Whether such a thoroughly logical and sane solution will fall on deaf ears is another thing entirely.
Whether such a thoroughly logical and sane solution will fall on deaf ears is another thing entirely.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Sunday Jukebox Contemplates The Zeitgeist
Somehow I think a Korean technopop song performed by a brassy woman, accompanied by a group of crash test dummies, and lots of paint perfectly sums up the general feeling in the US at the moment.
Ladies & Gentlemen, W & Whale's R.P.G. Shine:
Who knew the lyrics to Pointer Sisters singles were so prescient?
And Yes We Can doesn't count.
Ladies & Gentlemen, W & Whale's R.P.G. Shine:
Who knew the lyrics to Pointer Sisters singles were so prescient?
And Yes We Can doesn't count.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
An Accidental Editioral?
Alas, I have no link to share, but during W's speech this morning, WNBC "accidentally" interrupted it with a snippet from the ad for the musical A Tale of Two Cities:
The excerpt?
Voice Over: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times
(Sound and image of a guillotine in action.)
Irony?
The excerpt?
Voice Over: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times
(Sound and image of a guillotine in action.)
Irony?
Friday, October 10, 2008
The New Cod War?
Iceland froze. (Canned Laughter.) I mean, its assets are frozen. (Rimshot.)
Ok, let's just put it this way: Iceland is broke--in the way that a nation can be broke--the UK is gunning for them, and Iceland isn't backing down.
Who would've thought the Cod Wars would come back?
Ok, let's just put it this way: Iceland is broke--in the way that a nation can be broke--the UK is gunning for them, and Iceland isn't backing down.
Who would've thought the Cod Wars would come back?
Do You Buy This Excuse?
Sam I am, I do not like to link to the New York Post, but at least it's the entertainment section.
In today's Pulse, there is an article pointing out the plethora of non-American male actors.
In it, Life on Mars (debuting tonight by the way, although the recent full court press by ABC has made that hard to escape) producer Scott Rosenberg (and other producers as well) bemoans the fact that American male actors are not macho enough:
...these guys don't come to us with any baggage. That's what's really nice. They're not all Us-magazined and Page-Sixed. Those actors wilt the minute they get any success. Jason [O'Mara, the lead on Life on Mars]'s the one who's crash-landing into 1973 and into people's living rooms for the first time. He's not someone who's been washed-out from doing myriad TV shows.
Now, I don't quite buy Rosenberg's claim. I offer this theory: it's not like American actors are devoid of machismo, it's just that the American actors he looked at might've asked for more money. An actor from overseas might not be as costly. Just a theory.
I don't know where Rosenberg has been, but macho American actors are out there. He's just trying to justify his decision to cast a non-American.
For what it is worth, Life on Mars is at least shooting in New York, which--in my humble opinion--yields many more "macho" actors than Los Angeles.
In today's Pulse, there is an article pointing out the plethora of non-American male actors.
In it, Life on Mars (debuting tonight by the way, although the recent full court press by ABC has made that hard to escape) producer Scott Rosenberg (and other producers as well) bemoans the fact that American male actors are not macho enough:
...these guys don't come to us with any baggage. That's what's really nice. They're not all Us-magazined and Page-Sixed. Those actors wilt the minute they get any success. Jason [O'Mara, the lead on Life on Mars]'s the one who's crash-landing into 1973 and into people's living rooms for the first time. He's not someone who's been washed-out from doing myriad TV shows.
Now, I don't quite buy Rosenberg's claim. I offer this theory: it's not like American actors are devoid of machismo, it's just that the American actors he looked at might've asked for more money. An actor from overseas might not be as costly. Just a theory.
I don't know where Rosenberg has been, but macho American actors are out there. He's just trying to justify his decision to cast a non-American.
For what it is worth, Life on Mars is at least shooting in New York, which--in my humble opinion--yields many more "macho" actors than Los Angeles.
Thursday, October 09, 2008
The New Tourism Australia Campaign
Tourism Australia debuted the new Baz Luhrmann ad campaign today.
My impression: It looks sharp and interesting--and if there is going to be a storyline attached it, all the better--but, it also looks like they are marketing Australia like it's a perfume.
As for the film Australia, it'll go down gangbusters in Asia, lukewarm in the US, and Europe is hard to call.
Nonetheless, a wise tie-in.
My impression: It looks sharp and interesting--and if there is going to be a storyline attached it, all the better--but, it also looks like they are marketing Australia like it's a perfume.
As for the film Australia, it'll go down gangbusters in Asia, lukewarm in the US, and Europe is hard to call.
Nonetheless, a wise tie-in.
Whither Qantas?
Nick Bryant's Australia blog on the BBC website has a very insightful post about the state of Qantas, which puts in words something I've been pondering for the last few weeks: When did Qantas go astray? (I reckon it was at this point, myself: when it entered into the domestic market and was privatised shortly thereafter. That's two big changes too close together.)
My own experience with Qantas this year left me feeling that something had changed in the company's culture. Prior to this year, my opinion was of an airline that treated passengers like they were nieces and nephews--friendly, in other words, but this was in the early 1990s.
After this past April, the impression I received is that the employees are overworked, underpaid, and the company's desire to maintain its market share without raising costs has created such a bizarre clash of systems (to the point that its own subsidiary operates on a different baggage handling system than the parent) that it barely functions.
Since renationalisation is highly unlikely, the question is when can Qantas get a management that appeases shareholders and customers, gets maintenance done locally and effectively, keeps waste low--but isn't afraid to spend when necessary, and doesn't pillage salaries of frontline workers? That might sound like a lot, but I don't think it's a pipe dream.
Otherwise, I say break it up.
My own experience with Qantas this year left me feeling that something had changed in the company's culture. Prior to this year, my opinion was of an airline that treated passengers like they were nieces and nephews--friendly, in other words, but this was in the early 1990s.
After this past April, the impression I received is that the employees are overworked, underpaid, and the company's desire to maintain its market share without raising costs has created such a bizarre clash of systems (to the point that its own subsidiary operates on a different baggage handling system than the parent) that it barely functions.
Since renationalisation is highly unlikely, the question is when can Qantas get a management that appeases shareholders and customers, gets maintenance done locally and effectively, keeps waste low--but isn't afraid to spend when necessary, and doesn't pillage salaries of frontline workers? That might sound like a lot, but I don't think it's a pipe dream.
Otherwise, I say break it up.
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
The Importance of Same Sex Marriage Comes Home
While I have always been in favour of Same Sex Marriage, it never really hit home for me until this past Winter when my fiance (at the time, boyfriend) was hospitalised with double pneumonia and septic shock, further complicated by his HIV.*
* We are a sero-discordant couple. He is HIV+, I am HIV-.
Every day, I had to fight to get information on what was going on in respect to his health. While I figure that a heterosexual would be in the same position (at least in New York), it made me realise that in the future, were he to be hospitalised again and we were married, I would have little legal protection to ensure I was kept informed.
You see, at the time, I was also dealing with my mother's battle with breast cancer (which is in remission and likely to stay that way). In that situation, as a family member, I was privy to every bit of information and had strong legal protection.
I feel fortunate in that in both situations, I had no one else with an ulterior motive trying to keep me out of the loop, but many do have to deal with that.
Now that we are engaged, we are moving to a country where the situation is similar, but the chances are higher that it will change to an equal footing...although it is not going to be smooth sailing at all.
Nonetheless, it is sad and unacceptable that some couples in California may have to consider leaving their homes and lives in order to be treated with dignity and respect.
I reckon that I am preaching to the choir here, but in the chance this post may reach someone who will be voting in California, I strongly encourage you to vote No on Proposition 8. It is a matter of equal rights, and equal respect.
* We are a sero-discordant couple. He is HIV+, I am HIV-.
Every day, I had to fight to get information on what was going on in respect to his health. While I figure that a heterosexual would be in the same position (at least in New York), it made me realise that in the future, were he to be hospitalised again and we were married, I would have little legal protection to ensure I was kept informed.
You see, at the time, I was also dealing with my mother's battle with breast cancer (which is in remission and likely to stay that way). In that situation, as a family member, I was privy to every bit of information and had strong legal protection.
I feel fortunate in that in both situations, I had no one else with an ulterior motive trying to keep me out of the loop, but many do have to deal with that.
Now that we are engaged, we are moving to a country where the situation is similar, but the chances are higher that it will change to an equal footing...although it is not going to be smooth sailing at all.
Nonetheless, it is sad and unacceptable that some couples in California may have to consider leaving their homes and lives in order to be treated with dignity and respect.
I reckon that I am preaching to the choir here, but in the chance this post may reach someone who will be voting in California, I strongly encourage you to vote No on Proposition 8. It is a matter of equal rights, and equal respect.
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
As La Perry Prepares To Meet His Waterloo
How sad is this: Anne-Marie Johnson shows more guts and character than Sidney Poitier and Oprah by issuing a public statement denoucing Perry's actions.
She has also put her own job on the show (as a recurring character) at risk by doing so.
Oprah and Sidney lose nothing by denouncing Perry.
Spineless.
For what it is worth, the syndicated House of Payne aired an episode tonight which was written by one of the fired writers. Meaning La Perry will be racking in the money and Teri Brown-Jackson will not.
La Perry will be collecting his DGA rate for the show, but is too greedy to consider extending WGA rights and rates to the same show for others. In other words: the man directs every episode, gets a DGA rate (which means he follows DGA rules in addition to SAG rules for the actors), but because he cannot write every episode (try getting to 100 episodes on your own), he denies union membership and benefits to others in order to horde more money.
For what it's worth, here is a sampling of companies/products advertised during tonight's episode:
She has also put her own job on the show (as a recurring character) at risk by doing so.
Oprah and Sidney lose nothing by denouncing Perry.
Spineless.
For what it is worth, the syndicated House of Payne aired an episode tonight which was written by one of the fired writers. Meaning La Perry will be racking in the money and Teri Brown-Jackson will not.
La Perry will be collecting his DGA rate for the show, but is too greedy to consider extending WGA rights and rates to the same show for others. In other words: the man directs every episode, gets a DGA rate (which means he follows DGA rules in addition to SAG rules for the actors), but because he cannot write every episode (try getting to 100 episodes on your own), he denies union membership and benefits to others in order to horde more money.
For what it's worth, here is a sampling of companies/products advertised during tonight's episode:
- Chilli's
- Verizon
- Red Bull
- ING
- Perdue
- Honda
- Vivendi Universal
Teri Brown-Jackson did a good job with the episode, which dealt with HIV/AIDS in the black community. She is definitely owed her fair share. Perry has taken more than his own.
When You Need The Absolutely Wrong Person For The Job
The bailout will be run by a 35 year old.
A 35 year old who is a former Goldman Sachs executive.
Unless the man is an idiot savant or a real life Doogie Houser when it comes to financial knowledge, I think the Office of Financial Stability (how Orwellian) will be anything but.
A 35 year old who is a former Goldman Sachs executive.
Unless the man is an idiot savant or a real life Doogie Houser when it comes to financial knowledge, I think the Office of Financial Stability (how Orwellian) will be anything but.
Monday Jukebox Bonus Asks "What Was On Her Mind At The Time?"
Today's contestant: Marianne Mendt in the preview video for Musik.
Marianne looks like my kind of singer. She snarls, growls, and smokes with abandon throughout the video. My guess for what's on her mind: "Can we finish this damn thing already? I need a Grolsch." Another Marianne--as in Faithfull--needs to cover this song.
Marianne looks like my kind of singer. She snarls, growls, and smokes with abandon throughout the video. My guess for what's on her mind: "Can we finish this damn thing already? I need a Grolsch." Another Marianne--as in Faithfull--needs to cover this song.
Monday Jukebox FinKLs you
Here's a unique name for a girl group: "Fine Killing Liberty," which sounds more like a terrorist group rather than a gaggle of pop princesses. No wonder they went by Fin.K.L instead.
Even though I've heard of Fin.K.L since 1999, I was definitely surprised to find out that was they stood for. So let's jump in the wayback machine and see the best of Korea's pop princesses with the anarchist themed name.
Judging by songs like Forever Love, I reckon the Fin.K.L girls were planning on subverting the establishment by doing really weak (or just very avantgarde...maybe even "Outsider" inspired) choreography while singing ridiculously high. I don't know why, but when combined together, it works...at least for me.
Fortunately, that whole theme got tossed out in 2000 with Now, much like how Britney Spears ditched her cute image around the same time.
They pretty much went their separate ways in 2002, but regrouped in 2005 for a brief moment which yielded Fine Killing Liberty. The song is damn catchy, and it does look like the theme song to a group of young female anarchists.
Arguably, Lee Hyori has been the Robbie Williams of Fin.K.L in that she has risen the highest out of the ashes of the group, and how can you not like someone who releases an album called It's Hyorish?
First, here's a comparison between Hyori's Get Ya and Britney Spears's Do Somethin'. Yes, they are pretty similiar. (And I hope Hyori wasn't behind the idea to have blackface dancers in her video, which is a big offensive mistake that I hope wasn't intentional.)
Now, something Hyorish: Hey Mr. Big.
I'm still wondering what inspired that poll of "young people" to come up with Fine Killing Liberty as a name. Even though wiki.theppn says that the meaning was that they are against the oppression of freedom (yeah, I'm going to trust the protection of my rights to a bunch of young girls who can dance well), the name actually implies the opposite.
Even though I've heard of Fin.K.L since 1999, I was definitely surprised to find out that was they stood for. So let's jump in the wayback machine and see the best of Korea's pop princesses with the anarchist themed name.
Judging by songs like Forever Love, I reckon the Fin.K.L girls were planning on subverting the establishment by doing really weak (or just very avantgarde...maybe even "Outsider" inspired) choreography while singing ridiculously high. I don't know why, but when combined together, it works...at least for me.
Fortunately, that whole theme got tossed out in 2000 with Now, much like how Britney Spears ditched her cute image around the same time.
They pretty much went their separate ways in 2002, but regrouped in 2005 for a brief moment which yielded Fine Killing Liberty. The song is damn catchy, and it does look like the theme song to a group of young female anarchists.
Arguably, Lee Hyori has been the Robbie Williams of Fin.K.L in that she has risen the highest out of the ashes of the group, and how can you not like someone who releases an album called It's Hyorish?
First, here's a comparison between Hyori's Get Ya and Britney Spears's Do Somethin'. Yes, they are pretty similiar. (And I hope Hyori wasn't behind the idea to have blackface dancers in her video, which is a big offensive mistake that I hope wasn't intentional.)
Now, something Hyorish: Hey Mr. Big.
I'm still wondering what inspired that poll of "young people" to come up with Fine Killing Liberty as a name. Even though wiki.theppn says that the meaning was that they are against the oppression of freedom (yeah, I'm going to trust the protection of my rights to a bunch of young girls who can dance well), the name actually implies the opposite.
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