Take the CNBC analysts at their word: The U.S. financial crisis will impact every single sector of the economy — including the small sector of the cultural economy that supports indie-rock angels from Appalachia, already scraping by on the proceeds of domestic tours and album sales…
Thursday August 21st 2008, 4:47 pm
Filed under: Blogular
Yup, that’s right. I’m covering it. Got credentials and everything. Check out my super sweet house ad running in this week’s paper.
I’m super stoked, of course. I’ll live-blogging, doing some video casting and hopefully a whole lot of handshaking. I’ve got a little bingo card (imaginary of course) of media heroes I want to meet, including:
Andrea Mitchell (MSNBC)
Chris Matthews (MSNBC)
Dana Bash (CNN)
…ummm… I’m not sure who else. Those are the main three… I would’ve said Tim Russert, but, you know, he’s no longer punditting.
My cover story this week is all about the convention:
OK, sure, I admit it. When I run out of words, I just start plagiarizing The Who. So what? Why are you complaining? At least I’m blogging at Maassive.com again, right? Shut it.
Anyway, so I’ve been going threw a bit of slothful phase for the last month or so, which is why I haven’t checked in and updated you. Here’s the need-to-know of what you missed.
I’m not longer blogging for Film.com, which isn’t really a reason to shed tears (except that I was supposed to interview Michel Gondry before I finished, an opp that never fruited). They’re restructuring (again) and almost everyone I started with has left, so I’m not picking my heart shards off the floor or anything.
The Annual Association of Alternative Newsweeklies contest has come and gone; the SF Reporter racked up a heck of a lot of awards, though I only pulled in two, and my name wasn’t even on the certificate. Project White House picked up a 3rd place for Innovation and SFR’s Bill Richardson Blog won an honorable mention (the three posts submitted were mine). I’m shrugging it off; had my stuff from the Current been eligible, I think I would’ve done much, much better. That’s not to knock my work at the Reporter (which is the best its ever been), but that I had much larger body of work to choose from in San Antonio in 2007 (particularly “Paper to Pen” my special issue for inmates).
What else, what else? Oh, I have had two cover features since “Broken Rings”: “Gas Up“, a feature breaking down the $4-gallon-gas, and “Journey Home,” a double-profile of two Native American mothers who’ve been screwed by the system.
I’ve also been playing hardball in the Public Regulation Commission campaign race, uncovering previously undisclosed criminal charges by the Democratic nominee (which had to be followed up by the two dailies, with front-page stories) that same candidate’s potential unethical ties to a regulated telecom, and debunking that candidate’s father’s claim that his Green Party opponent is a “woman beater.”
It’s still too early to tell whether my reporting will have a tangible impact on the race, but I’m not holding my breath. Northern New Mexico voters, from what I hear, vote Democrat straight down the ballot.
Our election blog, SwingStateofMind.com, is progressing nicely thanks to the help of two pretty decent summer interns. Our YouTube channel has also been rolling. If you have 40 seconds to spare, screen my short film about Rep. Heather Wilson’s Senate bid.
Am I forgetting anything? Oh yeah, I’ve moved to Second Street, a hip little neighborhood that puts me in walking distance of several music venues, a pizza/pool joint, a coffee/crepe place, an independent ice cream shop, a Mediterranean late-night restaurant, a brewery, an indie rock art space, a world-music space, a Tai Chi studio, the best brunch place in Santa Fe and a Thai restaurant. Yup, it rules, but the best part is that Marlowe finally has a little backyard to piss in. She even gets to use my window as a doggy door. My roommate, Serene, is pretty damned punk rock. She’ll be fixing my hair if the alopecia comes back.
One last thing: I’m covering the Democratic National Convention in Denver. I’m so stoked. History being made, y’all.
OK, that’ll have to do for an update…I’ll blog more later, promise.
Thursday June 12th 2008, 11:40 am
Filed under: Blogular
I’ve been getting emails this morning about my face being on the cover of the Tucson Weekly’s Scramblewatch cover story this week. I swear, it’s not me. I didn’t pose for the cover, I’ve never worn that outfit, and my hair has never been long enough for that hair cut. But, I’m totally creeped out that there’s a doppleganger out there.
It was the right thing to do. Well, sorta. The right thing to do would have been not to court Rod Parsley’s support or call him a “moral compass” in the first place.
(I’d like to also point out, contrary to my Dad’s claim that no Christian Palestinians have been involved in terrorism; yesterday’s comment from Hillary Clinton about Bobby Kennedy’s assassination reminded me that Sirhan Sirhan was a Christian Palestinian.)
Broken Rings
Five ways New Mexico is connected to the Olympic controversies.
This months cover is timed to run with the Human Rights Torch Relay, a city-sponsored, Olympics-inspired demonstration against China’s human-rights record. I tie five controversies to New Mexico: Darfur, Tibet, Falun Gong, Tainted Imports and Avian Flu. Also in the feature is an interview with Olympic Gold Medalist Debbie Armstrong, who says that athletes shouldn’t be concerned with politics.
Pop Quiz: First Judicidial District Attorney
Here’s an interesting bit of useless trivia: Only one of three District Attorney candidates likes Law & Order. One of them had never even seen the show. Anyway, this is yet another installment in our “Pop Quiz” series, where we spring a surprise list of questions on candidates for public office.
Male Call
SFR Talk w/Ray Lopez
This is a pretty thoughtful interview with an individual engaged in “Creative Non-violence” courses for men at the Santa Fe Rape Crisis and Treatment Center. Among the issues we discuss: What does it mean that I’ve never been in a fist fight?
Winners & Losers: Environment
This week I poke fun at the Mayor’s bicycle, Vampires and whiney children. I swear, once you read it, you’ll understand what they have to do with the environment.
Ron Paul Uprising
Will the a GOP uprising take place at the Republican National Convention? I should’ve promoted this here when I first broke this story, but I was really busy with the Olympics feature and a trip to Phoenix. Anyway, this is about the secret “cryptodelegates” that are making there way up the Republican delegate-selection system in order to wreak havoc in Minneapolis during the RNC convention. A week later, the mainstream media picked up on the story.
Q&A: ‘Commander in Chief’ Director on the 2007 Election (Film.com)
Rod Lurie directed perhaps the two most important pop treatments of women in presidential politics: “The Contender” and the TV show “Commander in Chief.” Surprisingly, it turns out he’s an Obama supporter, in part because he’s more cinematic.
Cloverfield Q&A: Less Nausea, More Love, Same Terrifying Monster (Film.com)
I had never participated in an organized Hollywood telephone press event before, but when Film.com offered me the opportunity to interview Matt Reeves, director of the innovative monster movie Cloverfield, I jumped at it. We talk about 9-11, love scenes and editorial choices.
Tuesday May 13th 2008, 2:01 pm
Filed under: Election 2008
OK, people… y’all need to watch this video. It’s only a matter of time before McCain will have to confront this:
“WE WERE BUILT FOR THE BATTLE! WE WERE CREATED FOR THE CONFLICT!”
Those of you who are supporting John McCain and forwarding on Jeremiah Wright footage to make your case against Obama, you need to explain how Rev. Rod Parsley isn’t ten times worse than Wright.
Imagine we replaced his lines about Islam with, I don’t know, say, Judaism:
“The fact is that America was founded in part with the intention of seeing this false religion destroyed.”
“America has historically understood herself to be a bastion against Judaism in the world.”
This is, pure and simple, hatred and no presidential candidate should be courting the support of anyone who speaks this kind of bullshit.
Yup, that’s right. I’m covering it. Got credentials and everything. Check out my super sweet house ad running in this week’s paper.
What else, what else? Oh, I have had two cover features since “Broken Rings”: “
I should’ve promoted this here when I first broke this story, but I was really busy with the Olympics feature and a trip to Phoenix. Anyway, this is about the secret “cryptodelegates” that are making there way up the Republican delegate-selection system in order to wreak havoc in Minneapolis during the RNC convention. A week later, the mainstream media picked up on the story.