Golfweak

I have a question. When did the noose become a purely racist symbol? Did I miss a memo? I'm probably just ignorant and insensitive, but a hanging has never had any racist overtones for me. Not so with Golfweek magazine. Under pressure from the PGA tour, they fired their editor because of this:



Apparently Jeff Babineau, now jobless, thought that this cover would highlight their story about Kelly Tilghman's offhand "lynch him in a back alley" comment regarding Tiger Woods (who, kudos to him, released a press statement calling the entire affair "a non-issue"); still, the Golf Channel suspened Tilghman for two weeks.

(Al Sharpton is, of course, calling for her dismissal and subsequent burning at the stake, no doubt. But that's another story.)

Sure, the cover was a dumb idea. But fire the guy? I don't think he was any more racially motivated than Tilghman. Still, in our current culture of hypersensitivity to anything that might offend anyone, Golfweek felt the need to axe their editor.

That's dumb.

Golfweek's statement: "We apologize for creating this graphic cover that received extreme negative reaction from consumers, subscribers and advertisers across the country. We were trying to convey the controversial issue with a strong and provocative graphic image. It is now obvious that the overall reaction to our cover deeply offended many people. For that, we are deeply apologetic."

Their point about how the image conveys the controversy is obviously correct. Perhaps they should have said "the over reaction to our cover".

The PGA Tour said "Clearly, what [Tilghman] said was inappropriate and unfortunate, and she obviously regrets her choice of words, but we consider Golfweek's imagery of a swinging noose on its cover to be outrageous and irresponsible. It smacks of tabloid journalism. It was a naked attempt to inflame and keep alive an incident that was heading to an appropriate conclusion."

So it was tabloid journalism; so what? I was under the impression that the "appropriate conclusion" had already been reached (i.e. Tiger writing it off). If tabloid journalism were a crime, you'd be firing the editor of Weekly World News contantly. I don't think the cover was racist any more that I think Tilghman's statement was racist. I've used the expression "lynching" jokingly about any number of people. "He screwed up. Let's lynch him." The cover was pointing out America's overuse of the race card.

Lynch [linch] –verb (used with object): to put to death, esp. by hanging, by mob action and without legal authority.

Nowhere does this definition mention race.

I'll paraphrase a great line from Law & Order where White Cop says to Black Cop, "It isn't always about race". Black Cop responds, "Actually, it is always about race."

Is it?

Well, it shouldn't be. Until people actually stop thinking in terms of race first (an impossible dream, I realize), relations in this country will never get any better. If Tilghman has said exactly the same thing about Vijah Singh, the comment would have gone over with barely a blip.

Today's toxic stew:

Various - Thinner Volume 17
(more tasty dubtech)

Techno Animal - Versus Reality
(and reality cannot win)

Billie Holiday - The Complete Decca Recordings
(primo Billie from yesteryear)

Lamb - What Sound
(dnb, jazz, and downtempo in an easy open pouch)

Slotek - 7
(so mellow, it barely moves)

WARNING

DJ Abstract 22: The Ion Mix is coming...

Good to know

Apparently the world is going to end in 2011.

No, seriously.

A woman on the train this morning thought that all her fellow passengers should know that the End of Days is due in 2011. We all need to be righteous, cower before the Lord, etc., etc. This said at volumes no normal human (perhaps except me) should be capable of generating, all the while brandishing a tattered bible high above her head like a flaming sword (or crude bludgeoning weapon, depending on your attitude).

Perhaps she was channeling the Man Himself.

Then again, she might be wrong.

Wasn't the End of Days supposed to come in 2000 (or 2001 for those of us who actually know the definition of millennium, at least in the ordinal sense)?

I was forced to ask myself this question. After all, weren't we all promised a visit from Big J and the Doomsday posse then? Did they miss a bus? Take a day off? Forget to check their planners? Maybe the batteries died on their PDAs?

Hell, it's happened to me, so I totally sympathize.

Either way, I suggest we all get our affairs in order 'cause the apocalypse is acomin'.

At least according to another mindless drone in the subway.

Amen and pass the Kool-Aid.



Sonic bible verses:

Koordinate Of Wonders - Irreverse
(long awaited follow up to their ancient EP)

Ozzy Osbourne - Blizzard Of Ozz
(poppier than you might think)

Nasum - Human 2.0
(not even remotely poppy)

David Bowie - Aladdin Sane
(my favorite cracked actor)

Halo - Massive Corporate Disease
(the heaviest)

I not(heart) Huckabee

"My faith is my life -- it defines me. My faith doesn't influence my decisions, it drives them. ... Real faith makes us humble and mindful, not of the faults of others, but of our own."
-Mike Huckabee

My particular fault, Mike? You scare the shit out of me.

Say hello to the current Republican frontrunner: Bush 2.0 or worse (or I guess it should be 3.0); anti-choice, anti-gay, pro-war and anutha God fearin' Christian.

"I come bearing Jesus-flavored Kool Aid"


Oh goody.

I'm of two minds about this. Part of me thinks that it would be good for this sheep herder to get the Reppy nomination, as it's my sincere hope that America has the good sense not to elect someone this far right. The other part of me fears the idea because America does not have the best track record when it comes to good sense. The last two presidential elections illustrate my point, I think.

But can he do it?

I've no idea what the religious demographics of Iowa are, but the conservatives chose the guy who appeared to be... the most conservative (at least of the front runners). Hucky has been playing to the social conservatives very well (which is pretty easy, I guess, since he is one), but will this strategy continue to be effective throughout the primaries? Is the "silent majority" (less silent in recent years) still out there? Will Huckabee's religious fervor be enough for him to beat Guliani, Romney, etc.?

One big piece of the puzzle is Rudy’s "Big State" approach. I think it's a mistake (not that I want him winning either). Putting all your eggs in just a couple of baskets is a tactical error. Better to take your licks now and then and get a better picture of what the national feel is for your campaign. Either way, if this strategy blows up in Guliani's face, Huckabee might waltz his way into the nomination.

(BTW, does anybody else think that Mikey looks vaguely like Kevin Spacey? Sorry. Random neuron firing.)

So the Republican race is shaping up to be pretty interesting; Dems' too, especially with Hillary coming in a surprising THIRD! Edwards must be sporting a major woody this morning. Anyway, I think it might be a real scrap on both sides for awhile and that's good. America needs a slap-in-the-face election to get us thinking again. God knows we really need to pull our heads out of our asses.

Pagan plague carrier campaign songs:

Immortal - Battles In The North
(‘cause my imaginary world is colder than your imaginary world)

Tord Gustavsen Trio - The Ground
(tasty Nord-jazz from ECM)

Various - I Need It Records Compilation 1
(including trax from A Great White Bird; yummy!)

Various - Disco Essentials 1-6
(seven hours of glitter balls and ugly clothes)

Grooverider - Mysteries Of Funk
(d and b in the place to be)