SPEAKING OF THE TIMES

The election of Sarkozy as the President of France seems fairly disastrous for immigrants and the poor, who have been adversely affected by his policies of profiling and anti-immigrant sentiment. Riots expected – esp. since his characterization of youth living in the banieules as “scum” and “thugs” helped spark the 2005 riots. Since the 1999 protest of the WTO in Seattle, however, it seems that a standard global policy for protestors: when you can’t silence them, toss in a canister of tear gas.
– Fascinating article on Liberation theology in Brazil as counter to the conservative Catholic church, as headed up by our old friend, the scaryfying Pope Ratzinger: “We believe in merging the questions of faith and social action,” said Valmir Resende dos Santos, a liberation disciple who brings base communities and labor groups together in the industrial suburbs here. “We advise groups and social movements, mobilize the unemployed, and work with unions and parties, always from a perspective based on the Gospel.” Si! Si! Si!
– Alessandra Stanley writes about how Grey’s Anatomy paints most of its female stars as narcissists coming apart at the seams: People complain that hip-hop stars use obscene lyrics and lewd music videos to demean women. Sometimes, so do even the most bourgeois women’s television shows. A manipulative kicker, tho Stanley’s cutting sentiment is respectable. I like the spinoff, though – fully aware of its silliness – however, I’m disappointed in the new version of Addison as slightly less intelligent / focused, but slightly more unhinged/loosey. Not circumstantial – seems out of character, the way she’s playing it. Remember season one, when Grey’s was a soap opera that wasn’t really a soap opera? Is it possible Shonda (check the) Rhimes has Josh Schwartz (oc) disease, where success pokes holes in an otherwise good show? too many yes people? too many executives pressuring her to broaden the fanbase by lowest-common-denominatoring? I still watch – every week – but don’t obsess like I used to. (Please, God, please do not let this happen to my beloved Ugly Betty.)
RIP Ozone Records 3, Portland, Oregon. Thanks for letting me spend hours listening to records and loitering and talking shit about what bass is bassier and noisier. Miss all you guys.
Related: the new album by Strategy is excellent. Recommended for electronic dub enthusiasts, Cascadian secessionists, stoners and interpretive modern dancers – or people who like low end w/ wispy ephemeral texture. I need to listen more to give anything better than adjectival description, but hook it up.
In the Namesake, Kalpenn Modi wears a shirt that says, simply, “GRASS.”