While race is an ever-present subtext in the media narrative of Obama's candidacy, little is said about the overt racism that his field workers encounter. A Washington Post story recounts numerous examples of Obama campaign workers crossing paths with unapologetic bigots who hurl racial epithets at them. Many of the incidents described in the article occur in places like Indiana and Pennsylvania, but we shouldn't kid ourselves into thinking that this is a regional phenomenon. As Obama's status as the Democratic nominee becomes more apparent to the general public, I suspect that we'll see YouTube footage that will make former Senator Allen's "macaca" remark seem downright adorable in comparison.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:44 PM | Comments (0)

I had a chance to watch the episode of This American Life featuring Mike Phillips that I mentioned here previously. It's brilliant. Ira Glass never allows Mike's disability to become a source of morbid fascination, but he is frank in describing the precariousness of Mike's circumstances. The conflict between Mike and his mom over his desire for more independence mirrors the experiences of many of us with severe disabilities and it's a conflict that is fraught with good intentions. Glass understands this and gives both Mike and his mom sympathetic portrayals. And I'm glad to see the media engage in honest discussions of disability and sexuality. And Mike's choice of Johnny Depp as his proxy voice is perfect. Mike and everyone else involved in this production should be proud of what they accomplished here.

Thanks to certain anonymous sources for getting me a copy of the episode.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 10:04 PM | Comments (0)

I'm wearing this pair of linen pants I bought yesterday. I've never owned a pair of linen pants. I feel the impulse to head down to the yacht club for a game of bridge, followed by a jaunt to the polo grounds.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 04:19 PM | Comments (0)

Gore Verbinski, the director of the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, is going to direct a film based on the videogame Bioshock. If there can be such a thing as a film adaptation of a videogame that doesn't suck, this could be it. The game's plot is already cinematic in scope and the underwater Deco vibe would make for great sets. If the project can attract some recognizable talent, it might actually be worth seeing.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 10:13 AM | Comments (0)

I love it when cool things happen to cool people I know. Mike Phillips, who is 27 and has spinal muscular atrophy, is featured on the season debut of Ira Glass's This American Life. I know Mike mostly through his writings on various Mac-related websites (yes, I read Mac sites even though I don't own a single Mac; me=sad poseur) and I'm also Facebook friends with Mike's girlfriend Sara (who totally owned me on Scrabulous). The episode, which is centered on the theme of "Escape", details Mike's efforts to live independently after years of depending on his mom for his daily cares. A short clip is available here and more details on the episode can be found here, including a great picture of Mike and Sara.

Since I don't get Showtime and the episode isn't yet available on iTunes, I'm forced to obtain it through less scrupulous methods. Legal niceties won't stand in the way of me supporting a fellow member of the SMA clubhouse.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 01:11 PM | Comments (1)

It's costing me close to sixty dollars to fill up my van's gas tank. My driving habits consist of little more than trips to and from work, so I'm not feeling the same hurt that's being inflicted on so many suburban commuters. Still, I wish I could do something to ease my own dependence on my admittedly gas-guzzling vehicle. I don't think a Prius can accommodate my wheelchair and walking the ten miles to and from work is not a realistic option. It might be time to take a cue from Inspector Gadget and invent that personal propeller-based flight system that is powered solely on my excess charm.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 07:38 PM | Comments (0)

I have some appointments tonight, but it's worth noting that this interminable primary season might, at long last, be coming to a close. Obama's big win in North Carolina and narrow loss in Indiana could be the turn of events that forces Clinton to acknowledge the futility of continuing her quixotic campaign. I don't put much stock in the persistent conjecture surrounding a possible Obama-Clinton unity ticket, but for the good of the party, the two of them need to do one more joint television appearance and hug it out.

Posted by wintermute2_0 at 05:11 PM | Comments (0)