Lost in Translation

As part of my birthday celebration last weekend I went to see Lost in Translation at the Esquire. I really liked it. There is a very simple plot: understanding where you are in life is a never ending journey. Bill Murray is a great actor. He does not have the range of Bob De Niro, but Murray does have the ability to play a person with deep emotions. In this performance he plays a character with a laundry list problems: career in the dumper, marriage troubles, feeling trapped. Murray is able to make those emotions appear tangible to the viewer. The backdrop of Tokyo is itself a character in the film. It felt like reading the reflection of a your name in a mirror. It is just like your name, you know it, but it is still from such a different perspective that it is perplexing.

Sofia Coppola's direction deserves great praise. I am sure she has problems with stepping out from the shadow of her father, but I think she is on her way of being a good or even great director, Daddy aside. Kudos also to Scarlett Johansson.

Dennis Miller, Flipper, Flopper?

The New York Times Article on Dennis Miller and his new show are still making me wonder: did Dennis become a born again Christian? I don't get his fear based conversion to a Bush lover. He claims to be a social liberal still, but how can he remain loyal to a President who seeks to keep homosexuals second-class citizens?

Compromising on an issue is one thing. I can understand how a liberal or moderate might support the Iraq war. That is a relatively "reasoned" argument, but to take the further step of basically joining the GOP sounds like a mid life crisis more than a reasoned political choice.

2007: End of the Cincinnati Post?

The Enquirer and Post have announced that Gannett has not renewed the JOA (joint operation agreement) with Scripps to publish the Post. This has been rumored for years. The rest of the rumor is that the Post will remain as the Kentucky Post and serve Northern Kentucky. I would not be surprised if Scripps gives this a try. I am not sure how I like it. It would be good for those living in NKY, but I don't know if it would help news coverage on this side of the river. If the Enquirer gives up on NKY, then it might help some, but I don't see the Enquirer giving up anything, so they will try and compete with the KY Post and let Cincinnati-Ohio coverage suffer. Basically the City will get screwed. The Post will cover NKY and the Enquirer will cover the suburbs, leaving the actually city of Cincinnati to be treated like the black sheep of the family. Some might say that "black sheep" is more literal than my simile suggests. I don't know, but urbanists are not the sought after demographic of the Enquirer.

Wes Flinn links to this as well and asks if we noticed anything odd? I can only assume he means that both stories are almost word for word the same article, minus the opening paragraph or two.


More Coverage: Yahoo, Editor & Publisher, WCPO, Reuters, Washington Business Journal, and CNN.

Local Dean Supporters Still Going

Dean supporters locally are strong, in spite of our city's conservative image. Dean is facing a big fight in Iowa. His support is slipping against Kerry, which is a surprise. At this point I don't see Dean winning Iowa, or at least not by much. That opens things up for Clark and keeps Kerry alive.

Slur Story Will not Die

The Secrect Service is working on this now and the City Solicitor is now getting involved. Michael at Rantophilla disagrees with my view on this issue. I of course disagree. I believe a racial slur is only as big a deal as those who make it into one. I guess I apply the "sticks and stones" principle here, no matter the history. There are other racial, ethnic, and religious slurs that are as old or older than the "N-Word," but the media and politicos do not make a Federal Case out of anyone using those slurs.

Why Maggie?

Why did Maggie Downs "review" a book by a local conservative? Maggie's column had a few timid elements of commentary, but mostly was a news story on the book. Give this to Bronson. Peter would get a woody with this kind of book. His hang up must have been the fact that his book is competing with this guy's book. Let Maggie cover Michael Moore or Al Franken. It was painful to read this story. It was like Maggie's guilt in writing it came through on each sentence. Why couldn't she come out and let this guy have it? Show how any or all of his "truths" are either false, really opinion, or just bigotry hidden in a theocratic evangelism.

Race Politics and Race Based Media Coverage

It appears that Alicia Reece is charging head first into the issue of the alleged use of the "N-word" in a taped investigation interview from 1998. The Vice Mayor wants harsher punishments for using the "N-word" than was given. I have to ask what punishment should be given for political grandstanding? In any act of political grandstanding, especially about a race issue, lying is involved. How many lies, half-truths, misleading statements were made when the Vice Mayor announced the plan to fight "black on black" crime?

This story is a gold mine for the media. It is like sex or murder; the "N-word" sells. I am as much of a sucker for reporting on it than anyone. I might stick to politicians using it instead of a police sergeant using it over 5 years ago.