In Sunday’s Herald: The digital switch

If you are reading my blog from home, chances are you do not rely on an antenna to get your TV stations. This means chances are you will not be effected by the switch to digital programming on Feb. 17, 2009.
But many in our area will be, and Jonathan Owens did a good job this weekend explaining options to these people.
Sunday’s Herald is still in the racks if you don’t have one (since we don’t print on Mondays). Go buy one … you’ll be glad you did.

Rockband

A big thank you to Jamie and Jerry Stamm for inviting Jennifer and I to their place this weekend for a “Rockband” party. Rockband’s the videogame that allows homeslices like me to pretend they’re in a band. The picture below is Jonathan Owens on bass guitar, me with mic and Megan Wolfe on lead guitar doing Radiohead’s “Creep”.

I drink your milkshake

Don’t know how long this will be available (SNL usually attacks YouTube clips), but it was the highlight of this week’s show (the Obama sketch was OK, and Fred Armisen is a strange choice).
In honor of the Oscars and such, I drink your milkshake.

Of course, the sketch pokes fun at There Will Be Blood’s now-famous line.

And here ya go … one more.

Ahhh, good times.

Sunday column: Will we matter in May?

If I were a betting man, my money would be on Barack Obama and John McCain having well wrapped up their presidential nominations by the May 6 primary in North Carolina.
This means Hillary Clinton (who’s looking more and more like a kicked puppy with each loss) will have officially pulled off the biggest choke job since the 1992-1993 Houston Oilers, and Mike Huckabee will have graciously accepted the vice presidential invitation from McCain.
It also means, unfortunately, that North Carolina’s 134 delegates will have a pre-determined home, and more voters may choose to stay home rather than head to the polls anyway and decide on a number of important state and local races (and referendums).
But let’s play make-believe here and let’s pretend that Clinton’s found her own “It’s the economy, stupid” moment and mounted a comeback over Obama with wins in either Ohio, Texas or Pennsylvania. Let’s pretend Texas’ evangelicals came out in record numbers (there are lots of them … I used to live there) and gave Huckabee an improbable boost.
Suddenly, North Carolina — which votes the same day as Indiana, a full two weeks after Pennsylvania — is in the spotlight. Of all the states left in May and June, North Carolina by far has the most delegates of the remaining batch (Indiana has 84, and Oregon, which votes May 20, has 65) and in a close race, it becomes one of the final battlefields.
This means for the two weeks following Pennsylvania, cities like Sanford could have a candidate or two in its back yard. Could you see Obama shaking hands at the Pottery Festival? How about McCain having breakfast at the Dairy Bar … Clinton speaking to workers at a local industry … Huckabee milling about the local congregations on a Sunday morning.
It could happen. It happened in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, and you’re seeing it happen now in Texas and Ohio, which vote on March 4.
As a journalist and as somebody very interested in the intricacies of politics (it’s more interesting to me how people get votes rather than what they do once elected), having an important presidential primary in North Carolina would be a dream.
Ahhh, but like I said earlier, this is all make-believe. If I were in Vegas, my guess would be this isn’t going to happen.
On the Democratic side, Obama’s campaign has run like a well-oiled machine. Once it survived Super Tuesday, there was no stopping it. Clinton’s people, on the other hand, didn’t expect there to be a race after Super Tuesday, and the fundraising has fallen just as quickly as her numbers in the polls.
Obama has the good looks and the charm, and I’ve never seen anybody give a 30-minute speech so eloquently and still manage to keep voters in the dark about what he’d do if elected. Clinton, meanwhile, has not been able to hide her frustrations the past month, and each time she’s fired a campaign official or teared up in an interview, it’s hurt her chances of getting elected.
I’m not saying I like or dislike either candidate, and I can appreciate the history that will go into having the country’s first black or female president. The history aspect makes it an uphill climb for either McCain or Huckabee on the Republican side (just ask John Edwards).
McCain comes off as the candidate who’s most suited to just step into office and know what to do, and he’s a likable enough guy. But he doesn’t have the charisma or the ability to excite voters like Obama. Huckabee’s everybody’s favorite underdog, but I’m afraid he would be drubbed by Obama if he was the GOP’s choice.
There’s so much to talk about, so much to speculate on and so much potential if North Carolina can still make a difference in the big race once May rolls around.
It’s just too bad it’s not going to happen.
Sigh … I guess there’s always a sales tax to talk about.

Cherry Chocolate Diet Dr Pepper

I am not a big fan of Dr Pepper, and I especially don’t like diet sodas. But the commercials for this thing have me craving it for some reason.
I love chocolate soft drinks. And I love Cherry Coke. My current favorite drink at Sonic is a cherry, vanilla Coke, and on occasion, I do cherry chocolate. I’m crazy like that.
The problem is, I can’t find this drink anywhere in Sanford. It’s driving me nuts. Why do I want it so badly? Is there something subliminal in the advertising? Do I just like weird things?

Where can I get it? Have you tried it yet? Is it any good? Are you just “saying” you’ve tried it to get on my nerves? Is it even real?
Argh.

Lost 4.4

UPDATED: 12 p.m. Friday with theories at the bottom

It wasn’t as fast-paced as the first three, and as far as story advancement, it didn’t do as much as the others …. except during the final scene.
So we learn that Kate is “officially” one of the Oceanic 6 (we knew she was off the island, but we weren’t sure she was one of the celebs like Jack, Hurley and Sayid). We learn that Kate is arrested once she returns (she is a fugitive of course), and we learn that ultimately, her mother won’t testify against her for killing the man who beat her.
I guess Kate’s story arc is pretty much complete … except for the really big reveal during the last minute of the episode.
We learned that Kate is now “mom” to Aaron, Claire’s son, which brings up a ton of questions now …
• Does Claire die, or does she just stay on the island and hand Aaron over to Kate? Is Claire the one in the coffin from Season 3’s finale?
• Is Aaron considered one of the “Oceanic 6″ or is he one of the eight survivors Jack mentions in the trial?
• Why won’t Jack see Aaron? Is he responsible for Claire’s death?
• Why are they lying about the plane being at the bottom of the ocean?
Once again, I love this show.

From Lostpedia.com:
• The episode is titled “Eggtown,” a pejorative term that refers to the days of bartering, during the Great Depression. A traveling salesman would have to barter his candy or tobacco or shoelaces for different commodities. A poor exchange would be for eggs, a relatively common item that is also highly perishable. Nobody wants to trade for eggs from a traveling salesman because they have their own, so the salesman who accepted an egg in exchange was forced to accept a bad deal. Salesmen would use the term like “If I were you I would stay away from Bogart. That’s an egg-town.” The term “egg-town” represents a deal with undesirable outcomes in either case.
• Claire was told in past episode by Richard Malkin that it would be crucial that she raised the child herself. Malkin also convinced Claire to get on Flight 815, to give up her child for adoption to a couple in Los Angeles, who he says are “good people”. Kate ends up with the baby, living in Los Angeles.
• Daniel Faraday (one of the “rescuers”) displays some form of memory loss when tested with playing cards. He seemed to have trouble remembering his name when first introduced.

Theories out there:
• When Miles tells Ben he wants $3.2 million, he isn’t really telling him he wants money or that he’s being blackmailed. He’s actually talking in code and telling Ben something completely different because Kate is listening. Hmmmm…..
• Jack knows that he’s related to Claire (half siblings) by the time Kate is on trial, and he doesn’t want to see Aaron (his nephew) because something horrible probably happened to Claire.
• The flash-forward must take place in 2008, because Aaron looks to be 4, and Kate’s mom says “I’ve been told I have 6 months to live for the past 4 years). Does this mean Jack’s breakdown and beard growth happen in 2008 or later?

OK, I’m done now. Gotta work.

Who’s SNL’s Fauxbama?

Maybe it’s a little sad that I barely noticed the absence of Saturday Night Live during the writers’ strike (I actually quite enjoyed them showing the “Best of” episodes with Chris Farley, Will Ferrell and Tracy Morgan).
But SNL returns this week with host Tina Fey and musical guest who cares.
What I’ll be tuning in for is to see the new round of political performers.

In the past, election season has always been SNL’s time to shine. I don’t remember the late 70s or early 80s much, but I remember and loved the late 80s with Dana Carvey as George Bush and Jon Lovitz as Dukakis, and the early 90s with Carvey as Bush and Ross Perot and Phil Hartman as Bill Clinton. One of my favorite sketches was Perot’s car ride with his senile running mate, Admiral Stockdale. My friends and I would blurt “gridlock!” at random times in high school in honor of this sketch.
In 1996, it was Darrell Hammond as Clinton and Norm MacDonald did a fairly good Bob Dole, and in 2000, Will Ferrell took over as George W. Bush, with Hammond as Gore.
The most disappointing election year was 2004, with Will Forte’s one-dimensional George W. and Seth Meyers’ unfunny John Kerry.

That brings us to 2008, and because of the strike, there’ve been no presidential sketches so far. The only person to play Obama so far was Obama himself. Amy Poehler does a decent Hillary (not because she nails her mannerisms or anything, but because she’s just funny), I’m not sure who’ll do McCain … and as for Obama, I just pray it’s not Keenan Thompson (he’s too large for Obama anyway and not funny even an ounce). That’d be worse than Frank Caliendo trying to pass himself off as Bush… well.

The rumor is it will be a little-known comedian Donald Glover, a writer for Fey’s 30 Rock. It’s probably best it’s an unknown guy, as this will be his “job” up until election day (and for the next four years if he’s elected). The jury’s out, of course, on whether he’s any good, but that’s up to the writers too … and lately, meh.
I hope one sketch is a 20-minute Obama speech where he gives a million great quotes, but ultimately, doesn’t say a darn thing about what he’d do if elected.
C’mon … you agree with me.

If you can’t laugh at yourself …

A friend directed me to a pretty popular wordpress blog called simply, “Stuff White People Like.”
CLICK HERE FOR THE SITE

I read all 71 entries so far, and I must say, I do like a lot of these things. Some of the funniest include:
#4. Assists: When you say the word “assist,” first thing you think about is Steve Nash and Wayne Gretzky. White people love to pass, it’s no secret.
#22. Having two last names: It is also sexist that the child would only carry the name of one parent, especially since the unnamed parent is the one who carried the child for nine months. The only logical solution is to give the kid a split last name. White people can’t get enough of it!
As a result we have children growing up named Elijah Sadler-Moore.
#30. Wrigley Field: One of the best things someone can do to gain the respect and trust of a white person, is to attend a baseball game with them at Wrigley Field, the home of the Chicago Cubs. When most people think of the Chicago Cubs they think of tradition, ivy covered walls, Fergie Jenkins & Harry Caray. A more accurate representation would be khaki shorts, frat boys & rich white business men on their iphones. The 1980s television show Perfect Strangers best illustrates this point. In the opening credits, foreigner Balky Bartokomous is taken to Wrigley Field. This was more or less symbolic of what Balky had to do, to understand white America.
#37. Renovations: But it is important to note that white people have little or no interest in renovating a suburban home built after 1960 (except in Southern California). All white people dream about buying an older property (”with character”) in a city, and then renovating it so the insides look all modern with a stainless steel fridge.
#40. Apple products: Apple products tell the world you are creative and unique. They are an exclusive product line only used by every white college student, designer, writer, English teacher, and hipster on the planet.
#53. Dogs: White people generally believe that dogs have human emotions and that they are capable of loving certain TV shows, films, and music. “Buster just loves watching Six Feet Under!” Even though most dogs would enjoy watching Hitler if he were getting attention every time it came on the TV.
#55. Apologies: In fact, white people are so used to apologizing that they start all sentences that might cause disagreement with “I’m sorry.” For example “I’m sorry, but Garden State was a better film than Hard Eight.”
#67. Standing still at concerts: This is an important part of white concert going as it enables you to focus on the music, and it will prevent drawing excess attention to you. Remember, at a concert everyone is watching you just waiting for you to try to start dancing. Then they will make fun of you.
#69. Mos Def: He is everything that white people dream about: authentic (”he’s from Brooklyn!”), funny (”he was on Chapelle show!”), artistic (have you heard “Black on Both Sides?”), an actor (”he’s in the new Gondry film!”) and not white (”I don’t see race”).

The site really is genius. And if the author of the site doesn’t mind, I’d like to add a few of my own “stuff that white people like.”
• Revealing their knowledge of rap: White people love to show off that they know lyrics from Tupac, Jay-Z and old school Dr. Dre. It shows they are more cultured than you might think.
• Crate and Barrel: It’s from Crate and Barrel. It must be great. Right?
• Jokes about white people: We really don’t seem to get offended … ever.
• Blogs: It’s not that white people love to read any more than other people. It’s just that they like to waste time at work a lot more.

Wednesday roundup

Sorry, I’ve been in Durham all day, so I have again neglected by blog duties. So here’s a roundup of everything going on with me.

• Proud of my old high school
You’ve never heard of Como-Pickton High School in northeast Texas, but that’s OK. That’s where I graduated from, and it’s where I have a ton of great memories.
Well, the small school with 200-plus high school students (80 percent of which are in agriculture) made the local news this week when its superintendent was arrested on forgery charges.
From the article in the Sulphur Springs News-Telegram:
“The district attorney’s office this week released details of 35 forgery charges and two indictments for false statement to obtain property or credit against Bryan Christopher Neal, former superintendent of Como-Pickton Consolidated Independent School District. Neal resigned as superintendent in January of 2007 after allegations surfaced that he had misused district funds.
Meanwhile, Como-Pickton Band Booster Club President Jed Anthony Shadix was arrested Friday evening by sheriff’s investigators after confessing to theft of more than $10,000 in club money over an eight-month period.”
Click here for the full story

• American Idol
Yes, I watch the show. Shut up.
Anyway, after watching the 12 guys perform last night, I’ve already decided only three have a chance.
* Jason Castro of Rockwall, Tx.: He looks like a cross between John Travolta and Bob Marley. He’s also got the best voice.
* Michael Johns of Buckhead, Ga.: He’s the best of the rocker wanna-be’s. Not bad.
* David Archuleta of Murray, UT: He’s got the teeny-bopper thing going for him, plus he’s actually talented.
The rest kind of stink so far. Sorry.

• Word Jumble
It’s coming back in Thursday’s Herald. You’ll find it on our entertainment/features page, next to Sudoku. When we got Dennis back, we had to temporarily put the Jumble aside to find a place for it. I’m sorry it took two days.
I really am.
You can, however, find today’s Jumble at our Publisher Bill Horner III’s blog, by clicking here.

• The Q Shack
I ate lunch in Durham today at a barbecue place called The Q Shack. Nothing against barbecue in Sanford, but this place kicked pork butt (which, incidentally, is what I had). The sauce (non vinegar) was spicy in a good way, and if I had any knock on it, it was a bit salty. Still, great. And the huspuppies and mac-n-cheese were awesome.

• Indiana Jones 4 trailer
Count me in.

N’awlins

Click here to read a great column by ESPN’s Bill Simmons on his return to New Orleans for the NBA All-Star Break. Simmons does a good job grasping what it’s like to really “feel” New Orleans, and he compares the Crescent City to its pre-Katrina days.

——————————–

One of the things I miss most about living in Louisiana (other than the food) is New Orleans. Living in Lafayette, I was a two-and-a-half hour drive away from one of the most entertaining places on earth.
My first visit to the Big Easy came in 1997, the year I turned 21. My friends and I stayed out until 5 a.m. each night we were there and each of us went back to college with stories I can’t repeat here.
When I began dating my wife Jennifer, we made several trips to New Orleans, and we, too, had a memorable 21st birthday trip … this time for her.
Yes, New Orleans is the perfect place to “party.” The beads are ever-flowing, and so are the hurricanes. Imagine Franklin Street in Chapel Hill after the Tar Heels win the national title, then multiply that by 1,000. Then you’ll get what an average night on Bourbon Street is like.
It’s not for everybody. And the older I get, the less appeal Bourbon Street has for me.
But Bourbon Street is just one small part of New Orleans.
Like Simmons says, there’s no better feeling than sitting in Cafe Du Monde, eating beignets and watching the people stroll by in the French Quarter. There seems to always be the faint sound of jazz, even if you’re just imagining it, and there’s always a strong vibe from the people around you.
New Orleans in August is sweltering, but even then, it has its charm.

I was in New Orleans two weeks after Hurricane Katrina for a story we were doing at the paper I was at. I talked to people who were refusing to leave. So I witnessed the destruction, and I saw what was practically a ghost town. What I didn’t see was the total devastation of the 9th Ward, and I didn’t see the crime and suffering that took place in the days immediately following the storm.
Those are images I only saw on TV, as did the rest of the nation, but those are the images that have been etched into people’s memories.
I’m happy to say I was in New Orleans again 15 months later … just days before I left for Sanford … and watched a New Orleans Saints playoff game at a bar on Bourbon Street, just blocks from where the game was being played.
New Orleans came alive that night, and many people point to that game (a Saints win) as one of the major turning points in New Orleans’ revival. A simple football game brought people back, and it brought the city together.
When the Saints won, I remember walking out into Bourbon Street and seeing the people get even crazier. Hard to imagine, I know.

Simmons says the city’s not quite 100 percent, and it probably never will be. But it’s close, and if you haven’t been, it’s worth your time. If you don’t like the “party atmosphere,” there’s the history and the architecture (and the shopping, Saints, Hornets, Tulane University, Audubon Zoo and the Aquarium). It’s also cool to see the above-ground cemeteries and older-than-dirt churches.
And if you do love the night life, it never ends there. And despite what you hear … for tourists, it’s safe.

I’ll be begging my wife for a stop off in New Orleans when we visit Louisiana this year. I don’t ever want to forget the “feel” of N’Awlins, and I doubt I ever will.