 |
|
wOct 17, 2009 | |
|
 |
Obama/West Wing Parallels: Hopefully Continued I found a nice article this morning reiterating the similarities between the Obama campaign and presidency to the the fictional presidencies portrayed on The West Wing. Most of the comparisons can be made to a character who appears in the latter part of the series, Matthew Santos. Santos was actually modeled after Obama, after he delivered his speech to the 2004 Democratic Convention. But the similarities that occurred throughout the campaign and up to the present are almost startling. In this morning's article, however, the comparison is not between Obama and the Obama-modeled Santos, but between Obama and Jed Bartlet, the man who is president throughout most of the series. The articles note that both men won with a lot of powerful rhetoric and tightly-won campaigns. But once in office, the Bartlet (and Obama) Administrations started out slow, running into roadblocks and an unrelenting media, and seeming afraid to really lay the smack down. The author of the article hopes for an Obama breakthrough that leads to a monumental presidency, and I hope for the same. His first term in office, after the euphoria of the election win, had seemingly run aground, taking on water from turning the other cheek. They had sought a warmer, gentler path but the conservative forces - unleashing their attack dogs from the lunatic fringe - repeatedly pounded the new president, a sustained attack that cleaved his approval rating. Labels: obama, politics, tv: west wing scribbled mystickeeper at 3:57 PM 
0 comments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
wSep 21, 2008 | |
|
|
Break's Over It is no secret that The West Wing is my favorite TV show of all time. And I could explain it with the brilliant characterization, the pretty men in suits, the setting, and the funny. But really, what makes The West Wing my favorite show of all time is the superior writing style of Aaron Sorkin. The man makes my heart soar in a way that few writers can. So you can imagine my excitement with Maureen Dowd's most recent New York Times article. In it, she asked Aaron Sorkin to write a script of what would happen if Obama were to meet with fictional president Jed Bartlet. And the result is nothing short of amazing. OBAMA The problem is we can’t appear angry. Bush called us the angry left. Did you see anyone in Denver who was angry? I want Obama to take the gloves off. And also? Internet, I can't even tell you how much I am looking forward to watching a debate between Joe Biden and Sarah Palin. The pwnage will be of such epic proportions that I'm afraid of having a hernia from laughing. Labels: a: sorkin aaron, politics, presidential election, tv: west wing scribbled mystickeeper at 12:04 PM
0 comments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
wMay 14, 2008 | |
|
|
Angel: Episode 5.1 Spoilers through 5.1 I'm not sure how I feel about the Wolfram & Hart business as a whole, but I do take solace in the fact that the writers recognized how soapy the show was getting, and decided to shake things up. I like that they took Cordelia and Connor out of the picture entirely. I like that the plot looks like it has the potential to be more episodic. I knew Spike was coming back, but I didn't know that Harmony was. Genius. But, um, seriously WTF with Gunn's storyline? I mean, the man looks fine in a suit, but there's something about it that just makes me shudder. What is it? Oh yeah - for the only person of color on the show to be a more interesting character (presumably that's the goal?), or at least "to have a role," they literally take knowledge (Whedon was very careful to spell out that it was not intelligence - just knowledge) and implant it into his brain. Really? There was nothing else for Gunn to do? It's no secret that Gunn was not a favorite character of mine, but I really feel like something less.....drastic could have been done by the writers. What's up with Fred's assistant who has the surfer drawl? I peg him as evil now. The West Wing fan in me loves that Gunn now knows all of Gilbert & Sullivan, too. I thought it was just Aaron Sorkin, but apparently it's a lawyer thing. And lastly.....SPIKE AND WESLEY ON THE SAME SHOW, OMF!! Labels: tv: angel, tv: west wing scribbled mystickeeper at 11:05 AM
0 comments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
wMay 12, 2008 | |
|
|
Buffy: Through the last episode, :'( This is a highly imperfect post, but I really can't organize it any better. It's finals week. Don't hate me. The sweeping orchestral score remains stuck in my head, and probably will for days. For the most part, Buffy music (aside from when the characters sing) has faded into the background for me, and hasn't been particularly notable. The exception to this was the background music in the final episode. Anyway, spoilers through the last episode of Buffy. Episode-Specific Notes "Dirty Girls" Holy crap, "Dirty Girls" was such a good episode! Although, I really don't like him dressed as a Catholic priest. I loved the gushing wine, Xander's eye getting mushed out, Potentials getting killed, and Buffy on the floor. She really is being stupid, even though I hated Giles for trying to kill Spike, too. I was actually not digging this episode too much until it all came together at the end and there was gore. The fact that Wood wants Buffy to be a general and Wood is being controlled by the First is unsettling to me. "Empty Places" I liked Spike just holding Buffy all night long, although I did like the throw-back to his attempted rape. "No." (Spike counters somehow) "You really have problems with that word, don't you?" I'm sure that there were some fans who were angry about Buffy's re-acceptance of Spike after his attempted rape. I forgive him too, and I agree with her that his having a soul makes things different now. I do feel like she forgave him a little too quickly, though? It doesn't make sense to me that everyone would kick Buffy out of the house like that, :/ I liked Spike sticking up for her, fighting with Faith, and trying to find Buffy. I loved the expression on Buffy's face when she sees the weapon - when she knows that this is right. "End of Days" and "Chosen" I get that it's the end of the world and whatever, but it would have been nice to see a little bit more of Buffy making up with her friends. I mean, they kicked her out of her own damn house after telling her why she sucked. With that, I now give you my caps lock-ridden play-by-play. GUEST STARRING DAVID BOREANAZ, THANK YOU JESUS I LOVE YOU! LOVING: Buffy/Xander talk, Buffy/Faith talk, Buffy/Spike talk Especially the Buffy/Faith talk. FAITH: "Feels like mine. Must be yours." OH MY GOD ANYA/ANDREW. I adore their supply-gathering scene in the hospital. EVERY MOMENT OF IT, especially their wheelchair fight. WHY WAS SPIKE WATCHING THEM KISS? WHY WAS HE THERE? OH NO OH NO OH NO!!! Oh man, I loved the Principal Wood/Faith scene. I didn't think I liked them together when they hooked up, but with them dishing their crap right back at each other, it made a lot more sense in my mind. I hope he's in the comics! I LOVE THIS SHOW. I LOVE THIS SHOW SO MUCH. Giles and Xander playing D&D with Andrew was SO FUNNY. "You go through the door and encounter Trogdor the Burninator." LOLOL. I loved the Buffy/Giles/Xander/Willow moment. I LOVE THIS SHOW! I WANT TO RE-WATCH IT FROM THE BEGINNING RIGHT NOW! I don't really like Kennedy, but man does she look good when she kicks ass. BUNNIES. OH NO!!! HOW CAN THEY KILL ANYA AND THEN PRINCIPAL WOOD AND THEN AMANDA?! MEAN! MEAN! MEAN! JOSS WHEDON, YOU BASTARD! I didn't cry until Andrew told Xander that Anya died saving his life ("Storyteller" makes this so bittersweet! He's telling a story but it's useful!), and Faith thinking Principal Wood was dead. Of course, Joss Whedon made both incidents mildly amusing. Wow. The ending? Especially with the girls fighting? I think I could watch the Slayers' empowerment and fighting whenever I'm feeling bad, and never be depressed again. Really. That, combined with the Slayers getting empowered, made me that happy. I loved watching the girls throughout the world get their power, starting with Kennedy. The little girl playing little league softball. And especially, that girl in the trailer, stopping the fist, and ending it. Caleb I get that it sucked that Firefly was canceled. But I feel like Gina Torres's role fit in a lot better into season 4 of Angel than Nathan Fillion's did into season 7 of Buffy. I don't think that Caleb served any narrative purpose whatsoever. The First was controlling the Bringers, the vampires, etc. Why need a mortal to do it? Needless. Caleb was fun to watch, yes. But still detracted from time that could have been spent fleshing out some details a little better - how Buffy reconciled with her friends after they kicked her out, WTF with Dawn's story arc, Xander & Co. tolerating Spike in their midst, and there can always be more time for Faith. Also, I'm sure that I'm in the minority here, but it also bothered me that Caleb was a Catholic priest. I feel like the show was making statements about the meaning of feminism being diametrically opposed to the Catholic Church, which bothers me a great deal. Even if Caleb was a necessary Big Bad for this season, I don't agree at all that it was necessary to make him into a Catholic priest. I think this bothered me also with the way faith was crossed with the Big Bad on Angel at the same time as this, which I'll go into in more detail when I post about Angel season 4. Season 7 as a whole Overall, season 7 is not my favorite. I liked 2 and 3 more for sure. Probably also 5, and maybe even 6. I liked parts of 7, and I liked the ending especially. Overall, there are lots of loose threads, and I am eager to see what the comics are like. After I watch Angel, Season 5, of course. I've seen a lot of people complain about Xander getting the shaft in terms of his own storyline this season, but I think the person who suffers the most from this is Dawn. I liked her being grown up, though, and I liked her kicking Buffy for trying to take her away. She also totally kicked ass, in the end. I still remain unconvinced of Willow and Kennedy's relationship. I feel like this is always what happens to Willow, though. With Oz, Tara, and Kennedy, every time it's the other half of the couple who notices Willow first. I get why they love Willow. And I get why Oz fell for Willow (it was so cute!). But with Kennedy especially, I don't think I was given a very good reason for why Kennedy fell for Willow, except to serve Willow's storyline. I still have another season of Angel to watch, but for now my top three favorite characters of the Buffyverse are Buffy (Buffy has always been #1 for me), Wesley Wyndam-Pryce, and Spike. I should note, perhaps, that I'm not huge on Buffy/Spike. I love Spike's unrequited love for her. I understand why she slept with him in Season 6. But I agree with Spike - she doesn't love him ("But thanks for sayin' it." OMF, CRY!). My fairy-tale ending for Buffy and Angel is that Angel redeems his soul and becomes human again, and then he and Buffy spend the rest of their lives fighting, and die in battle. I don't really understand the people who hate seasons 5-7 and pretend they don't exist, or say they're terrible. They were different from the first four, but they definitely didn't suck. Can someone explain this to me? Maybe I've just been desensitized by The West Wing. You want to talk about a huge break in quality between seasons 1-4 and 5-7, and you need look no further. Is there good online criticism of Buffy somewhere? Or any books that I should check out? I'm not huge on fanfiction (unless it's Final Fantasy VII), but I am an English major, and greedily consume academic criticism on the things I adore. I wish that I had watched Buffy earlier in my life than my last year of college. I wish especially that I had watched Buffy in high school. I love the show Buffy more than words can express - the characters, the themes, the humor, the drama, all of it. But I think that The West Wing is and always will be my favorite TV show. Buffy is a very close second, though. I guess Buffy is more notable in that while both series had 7 seasons, I liked all seven seasons of Buffy, whereas in West Wing it was only the first four. Also, I'm kind of spoiled for things that happen in the comics (I know, I suck! I can't help myself from looking at things on the Internet!), but try not to discuss spoilers for them in the comics. If there's anything I don't already know, I'd prefer to keep it that way. I'm lucky that I don't have to wait years for the comic books to come out. Labels: tv: buffy, tv: west wing scribbled mystickeeper at 10:28 AM
0 comments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
wFeb 27, 2008 | |
|
|
Brought to you by sleep deprivation Spoilers through episode 6.5 of Buffy Fail I think that last semester ruined me for responsible project habits. Last semester, papers and exams and projects were scheduled in such a way that everything was always one right after the other, and it was nigh on impossible for me to start anything more than 2 days before it was due. My grades turned out fine, but I'm just used to starting a paper more in advance. The habits seem to have carried over to this semester, even though I have more time, and things are more spaced out (except for this week, WTF!). Last night I fell asleep around midnight and woke up at 2am, wrote a 4-page paper, and went to bed again at 3:30. Woke up at 6:45 for the day. Over breakfast, I decided it would be a good idea to cite the text, as it was an English paper (BWAHAHA). Anyway, the paper is done and will be handed in during my next class. After that, I have a ballroom dance practical on Monday (on the Waltz) and my Constitutional Law midterm due Tuesday. After that, I just have one exam before Spring Break, so I guess that's good. Win Yes, this means that I only have one episode before the Buffy musical, so hopefully I can watch both of those this weekend. SO EXCITED, omg. Then I can finally download the songs without fear of minor spoilers, and listen to them repeatedly forever. I have decided what my Buffy icon needs to be. Buffy, looking feisty, preferably shaking a finger in a scolding way. Text: "You are a neutered vampire who cheats at kitten poker!" Latest Addition to my car woes $20 parking ticket because I didn't move my car to the other side of the street last night. I thought I only had to do that during a snow emergency, but APPARENTLY I WAS WRONG. At least it's only $20 and I can pay it online (I hope). Links By way of I am in love with this blog post by Ann Althouse: Obama, Farrakhan, and how Hillary Clinton took the opening and then squandered it. In the post, she dissects the rhetoric behind Tim Russert's question to Obama about Farrakhan in Tuesday night's debate, and how Hillary almost totally owned him, and then didn't. I feel like this is going to be a defining moment if she loses to Obama. Obama gives the wrong answer to a serious question, Hillary watches him shoot himself in the foot and makes herself look much stronger....until she backs off, Obama turns her point into a joke, and instead of arguing further, everyone has a good laugh, including the audience, the candidates, and the moderators. And Obama scores hugely. SlateV had a video up on its main page last night pointing out the similarities between Barack Obama and this year's presidential campaign, and the one shown on The West Wing in its final seasons. Apparently, fictional character Matthew Santos was based on Barack Obama to begin with, although other similarities (fighting an entrenched Democrat; a moderate Republican, etc.) are obviously coincidental. Labels: college, internet, politics, presidential election, tv: buffy, tv: west wing scribbled mystickeeper at 8:43 PM
0 comments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
wFeb 12, 2008 | |
|
|
Yes, we can. I have so many things I want to blog about - so many open tabs in windows of Firefox, so many stories to tell. But I guess I'll start with the Obama rally, as it's most immediate. Firstly, I did take pictures, but I will not have time to upload them until tomorrow. Barack Obama spoke at the Kohl Center on campus today, and I went with Steph to see him speak. Antoine also went with some co-workers, but I didn't get to see him until afterward because there were so many people. When set up for a basketball game, the Kohl Center seats 17,000 people, and 2,000 were on the floor. There was also an overflow room. There was no clear direction outside as to what door to enter through. We joined a line in which people assured us that we would get let in first. Most people went down two large paths that led to a long row of doors along the front of the building, while our line wound around the TV cameras. People going straight for the doors kept streaming in, and eventually, we switched over to the front doors. Unfortunately, we ended up in the very top of the third tier of seating, behind the stage. The four-faced TV hanging above the middle of the floor allowed us to see Obama (and the irritating elementary school-girl making faces at the camera behind him) just fine. Obama was introduced first by Bryon Eagon, the leader of Obama's campaign on the UW campus. I don't think I've ever actually spoken with him, but I'm about 90% certain that he and his brother went to the same LeadAmerica program that Chad and I went to the summer after we graduated from high school, in Washington, D.C. Apparently, he took it to heart when Bush's Deputy Chief of Staff recommended that we get involved in campaigns, :) Following him was the field director for the Madison area, and then Governor Jim Doyle. Links Obama's speech was inspiring, but also didn't contain much new information. I think that the "Yes We Can" video going around is based entirely on his stump speech, because just about everything he said was basically the same. Obama's general point is that he's fully aware of the talk surrounding him, that he is too idealistic. He understands how much it would take to make his ideas work, and he's prepared to do it. He truly believes that America is in a place where it's prepared to be right there with him. An article here about how Obama is eroding Clinton's base in Wisconsin by claiming college students and upper-class independents. Wisconsin Democratic Chairman Joe Weineke says, "Obama's got the momentum in this state, but I never rule out a Clinton." Chelsea Clinton was on campus yesterday too, although I couldn't make it for that speech. And lastly, continuing from my last post, there's yet another way why this campaign is similar to the one in West Wing. A government official has leaked government secrets about a space shuttle! But this time, I can't complain about how it's inconsistent with the character in question. College is hard. Anyway. Seeing Obama was tonight, so I didn't get home until 10pm, and last night was the Career Fair. Most of the paper that I handed in today was written between 2:30 and 3:30am last night. I have to get up at the ass-crack of dawn tomorrow, so you can pretty much tell where I'm at right now. I look forward to tomorrow, when I will spend more than 2 conscious hours in my damn bedroom. Labels: college, politics, presidential election, tv: west wing scribbled mystickeeper at 11:19 PM
2 comments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
wFeb 10, 2008 | |
|
|
Life is imitating art. I need a more serious West Wing icon. Really, I need more icons in general. I would like a paid LiveJournal account. One day, this will happen! But I think I'm going to wait to do stuff like that until I have a job. Or something. Anyway, a co-worker and I were talking on Friday about the similarities between the current presidential election and the election that took place during seasons 6 and 7 on The West Wing. The West Wing is my favorite TV show of all time, but it's the first four seasons, when Aaron Sorkin was on board, that are my favorite. While I watched season 7, I found parts of it making me roll my eyes because the issues on the show were ripped right from current headlines about politics and international situations. I find this to be lazy storytelling. How ironic now, that "life imitates art," as they would say on the show. I wanted to make my own list, but after I posted in the LiveJournal West Wing community, someone directed me to this article, so I can just post the similarities someone else has written out! Bwaha. West Wing: The battle for the Democratic nomination for the President was very close And on a related note, blogger Ann Althouse started an interesting conversation about the fact that Democratic superdelegates are totally capable of thwarting Democratic voters and caucus goers by voting however they want. The post is here. These are the rules we play by. Are they the rules we should play by? Labels: politics, presidential election, tv: west wing scribbled mystickeeper at 11:59 AM
0 comments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
wFeb 5, 2008 | |
|
|
Everything and its mom I should blog, in order to prove to the Internet that I do other things than just watch anime. However, by the time I have enough spare moment to get a blog entry together in the evening, I have reached the point in the day when my bitterness threatens to poison my words and thoughts, and convince me that things are much worses than they truly are. My time is consumed by work, class, homework, and barely having time for life-things like groceries and shopping. Although I am still afraid of graduation, I can feel my insecurities slipping away as my resolve hardens and I realize that this isn't going to be bad at all. What the hell am I so afraid of? Life? I can totally do this. I am hopeful that this will force me to kick myself into higher gear. Ash Wednesday Speaking of having a full life, though, tomorrow I'm going to be gone from 6:30am until after 9pm. The only time I'm going to have to go to an Ash Wednesday service will be at 8:00am, which means that I have to walk around with ashes on my forehead all day. I never understand why the Ash Wednesday reading always has Jesus telling people not to make a big deal about it publicly when they pray, etc. And then we all get marked and leave it on all day. I might wash it off when I go to work, but I'm not sure yet. I'm not a fan of mixing government and state, but this is more like....practicing my own religion and not pressing it on others, right? Speaking of Ash Wednesday....I have no idea what to give up for Lent. Did I even do anything last year? I suck at being Catholic. Politics and the Ideal I spent my evening watching the election results with Antoine and Chad. My favorite TV show of all time is The West Wing, although I haven't watched it in quite some time (I really should). Chad sent me a link to a clip of the show tonight, and I find it pretty fitting after watching Mike Huckabee talk to ABC's Charlie Gibson about his good fortune tonight. Gibson asked Huckabee why he had invoked references to the Bible in his campaign thank-you speech. Huckabee told Gibson that "Bible" was not a second language to him, but a mother tongue. Blah, blah, your mom. It's no secret that I consider myself a religious person. But I've never understood people tendency to mix religion with government. We either live in a free nation, or we do not. Separation of church and state aside, it's always bothered me that by layering on all kinds of archaic rules, people tend to miss the whole point of Christianity. OMG BUFFY/ANGEL WHY DOES NO ONE TELL ME THESE THINGS!? The actress who played Willow on Buffy is married to the actor who played Wesley. OMGWTF. AND, Christian Kane (Lindsey in Angel) is best friends with David Boreanaz (Angel) in real life. THAT IS SO CUTE. OMG!! SPOILERS Labels: college, graduation, politics, presidential election, religion, tv: angel, tv: buffy, tv: west wing scribbled mystickeeper at 11:57 PM
2 comments |
|
|
|
|
|
