The Nose: Obama On The View, Dogs With Souls And More!
The Nose rounds up the week in pop culture from Obama to The Kids Are Alright.
Published: Jul 30, 2010
Slideshow
Susan Campbell
Photo:Chion Wolf
Culture Dog Sam Hatch
Photo:Chion Wolf
Captain John 'J' Wolcott Holt IV
Photo:Chion Wolf
Deborah Hornblow
Photo:Chion Wolf
Audio Playlist
The Nose: Obama On The View, Dogs With Souls And More!
There has been a mild furor in the last 24 hours over a comment Barack Obama made Thursday on The View.
Describing the African-American experience he said, We're a mongrel people -- all kind of mixed up." He said the same was true of white Americans but that black Americans "know more about it."
When I quote it that way, it sounds a little provocative, and that's the way it's being hashed out in the blogosphere, as it people had learned nothing from the Shirley Sherrod experience a week ago.
First, let's note: this isn't the first time Obama used this trope. When the family was picking out a dog he famously said shelter dogs were often "mutts, like me."
But Obama on The View was talking with real candor and nuance and complexity about race.
In the full context of his remarks, the mongrel quote has a very different meaning.
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To Maureen, From John W. Holt III
Maureen Catherine Moriarty?
Maureen Moonbeam Moriarty?
Maureen Moriarty McVeigh Moriarty? (throw a name in, throw a name out)
I don't know ANY of those names (some of which might have been invented due to poor psychic abilities). Hmmm. As IF I could ever NOT remember you!!!!! Puh-leeeeze!
Mary & I have retired to the house on Chebeague. My mother conveniently croaked the month before Mary's last school year ended so that she would not have to share the kitchen with Mary or anyone else we would be allowing to invade 23 North Rd.
SO ... Where are you? What are you doing? And with who? (or should that be 'whom'?) Inquiring minds like ours just NEED to know.
Anyhoo ... don't ya love small worlds? And aren't you glad you listen to Connecticut Public Radio?
We're waiting to hear from you! Can't wait to catch up.
jwholtiii@chebeague.net
Captain John Wolcott Holt IV
I knew a John Wolcott Holt (yes, the third) in high school (West Hartford). Could Mr IV really be the progeny of my long lost friend and Mary Reveruzzi? If this is a bingo, could Mr. IV, the Captain, ask Mr. III, the Father, if he remembers me? Would love to hear from him - lots of dear memories. Thanks.
E-mail from Karl
As nobody could figure out how to package the Happy Meal for it, the Eat Pray Love vehicle has been split up into a"Big Chill" style soundtrack which has been in coffee shops for a week, and candles, jewelry, and tea based on the memoir/movie coming out.
The movie itself doesn't open for half a month.
Not that I'm the target audience, but in general concerns of encouraging taste with commercial success, and not eating their seed corn, I am very worried about this movie, what it says for the future of grown-ups movies, and also "chick flicks". (See that disastrous remake of "The
Women".)
One day Hollywood is going to wake up and Julia Roberts won't be able to pass for her early, early, early 40s, and every woman of a certain age won't know who the heck would be starring in this type of movie, if it could even be financed for the big screen rather than a TV movie. (And I don't mean a place where cool TV is made, like HBO or Showtime. I mean Lifetime or such.)
So, who is being groomed to be the next Julia Roberts? Is anyone on the horizon? What about Alia Shakwat from "Arrested Development"?
PS Speaking of "Bringing Up Baby", we should have this discussion about romantic comedies at some point, unless we have given up on them.
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