May 17, 2007
Newsom sings the hits
Last night, my dad took me to see Gavin Newsom being interviewed at the Commonwealth Club. Some highlights:
Interviewer: Let's talk about sports.
Newsom: Sports are important...but ultimately, sports are games, they're fun, they're just games.
Interviewer: And they're big business.
Newsom: Like I said.
I chuckle to myself. To millionaire mayor Newsom, big business is a game.
Newsom: You know, I created this amazing anti-poverty legislation...and the next day, the front page story is about my hair. My hair is not important!
Woman behind me, whispering: It's kind of important.
After several probing questions citing Newsom's critics, while Newsom got more and more vehement in his answers:
Interviewer: You seem kind of angry.
Newsom: I'm not angry.
Interviewer: Ok.
Newsom: I'm passionate.
Interviewer: 'Cause you seem angry.
Newsom: [Turns purple. Remains handsome.]
Overall, I'm sold. Not because he is a tall, gorgeous drink of water poured into an expensive suit who exudes an appealing mix of charm and smarm; not because he's intelligent, articulate, and has a stunning memory for facts; not because he's a millionaire who's willing to date commoners; not because he seems sincere about ending poverty (and whatever you think about his programs, he is sincere about that, I think).
Wait, no, those are the reasons I like him.
Posted by didofoot at 08:42 AM | Comments (0)
May 16, 2007
Exposing journalism's seedy underbelly
I had my first press conference today. ("Why are you holding a press conference?" a confused friend asked, but no. Attended my first press conference.) Here are some of the things I learned:
Your word is good enough for us.
All I had to do to score a press kit was to walk up and say I was a member of the press. Do I have a press pass? Business cards? A sharp fedora? Shoes that cover my entire foot? No. But I guess I look intrepid enough.
I did see a few of the reporters sporting laminated passes around their necks, but the rest of us sneered at them. Total overkill, man.
What do you do while you wait for the damn thing to start?
Smoke. (It was held on the steps of City Hall. More on that later.) If you know the other reporters, you can also nod, or verbally greet if you are a little uncool. You can tell who's in charge because she's the only one moving at a rapid speed and looking invested.
Where is C.J. Cregg?
C.J. Cregg was nowhere in sight, much to my dismay.
But it was still totally professional, right?
The event began with slam poetry. Also, after every speaker, all the reporters applauded. Some cheered. I was confused: aren't we supposed to be detached? Danny Concannon never applauds.
Which kind of ties into a broader theme...
Entertainment. I always knew the news as it stands today is intended to entertain the masses, but I didn't realize that events like this are also intended to entertain the reporters. There was a weird double entertaining going on.
First they grouped all the reporters behind the podium. Then the speakers also stood behind the podium and talked to the five or ten reporters and photographers left in front. I have no idea why they massed us up there. Was it for the photos, so it would look like a bunch of scruffy, smoking, poorly-shod community members had showed up to support the cause?
Then there was the whole business of holding the conference on the steps of City Hall. I'm sure this was also for the photo op, as if this problem was just now bursting out of the Halls of Government and into the public eye. Unfortunately, it did open the event to one really determined heckler, who persistently out-shouted the microphoned speakers. The speakers got more and more angry. We reporters kind of giggled and looked at our flip-flops.
The event closed with a dance performance, which probably won't make it into any of the articles or sound bites. Although you never know.
Well, at least YOU were professional, right?
On the way there, I passed a sidewalk book sale in front of the library. I kept on walking. It's called a work ethic, people. (I did stop on the way back, though. I'm only human.)
Posted by didofoot at 01:30 PM | Comments (1)
May 09, 2007
Fun with TV
Gene: Wait, what's Buffy doing here? I thought you were watching Angel.
Kris: I am. It's a crossover episode. Sometimes one of them comes to the other one's show and it's called a crossover.
Gene: Oh.
Angel: Dammit, Buffy, you can't just come into MY town...
Gene: ...on MY show, and start throwing your weight around. Get back to your own show!
Kris: This is MY forty-two minutes! Mine! That blond detective? MY blond detective! These sidekicks? MY sidekicks!
Buffy: You HIT me!
Gene: Whoa, he hit her.
Kris: She hit him first.
Gene: MY show, dammit!
Posted by didofoot at 06:42 PM | Comments (0)
May 03, 2007
Restoring Law and Order in Iraq
Today, the Chronicle reported on American soldiers' efforts to bring safety and security to the people of Iraq:
A platoon sergeant warned [an Iraqi family] that the kidnappers might be back to finish the job and that the Americans could not provide permanent guards. [...] "If I were you, I'd sit in here with a rifle, and if anyone comes through that door, shoot them in the head," the sergeant told [the family]. "You've got to protect yourself."
The military continues to display a strong show of support of the Iraqi criminal justice system. They have had no luck restoring the popular series Law & Order to the Iraqi airwaves, however.
Posted by didofoot at 09:33 AM | Comments (0)
