Xchoboomer

So I missed this weeks SNL weekend report but I heard that their was a parody of the Bush and Kanye thing. I thought to myself now that should make for some interesting tv so I decided to check it out on you tube. I wasn’t impressed. Sure the part about Bush interrupting the country for 8 years made me chuckle but I am so disappointed in the writing for this skit. They had so much material to make this funny. I was really looking forward to it. I want my 5 minutes back!

I just heard the news about Dennis Hopper ’bout a couple hours ago and we’ve lost a great artist.  I can’t say that I (we) didn’t see this one coming though. It was only a month or two ago that he was getting his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He looked so frail and it was evident that the time was near.

Nice to see George, err, I mean Jack out there seeing an old friend off.  To bad they didn’t light one up for old times sake. I’d like to think they did behind the cameras but that was the thing about Easy Rider, written and directed by Hopper. It was all in front of the cameras like a big middle finger to the “man” a.k.a, the  “establishment”!

Dennis Hopper was the embodiment of  “coolness”. Even in his early days of Rebel without a Cause he was banging Natalie Wood off-camera. Now that’s cool!  I wonder if she tasted like peaches too? (True Romance reference if you didn’t get that.) Cultivating his skills in the Actors’ Studio payed off in roles as a photojournalist in Apocalypse Now,  Easy Rider, Hoosiers, and even in the last few years with his hit series “Crash”, a Stars original series, he always came across with that aura of coolness. Heck, I even thought he was cool in Red Rock West and Speed! Plus did you know he directed “Colors” too? He probably came up with the name Pac-Man for Sean Penn!

Well, it just so happens, and probably not by accident either, that Dennis Hopper stars in one of the greatest scenes in cinematic history, in my mind at least, in one of my all-time favorites, True Romance. Starring opposite Christoper Walken playing a Siccilian mafioso, who was also phenomenal in this scene I might add, Dennis Hopper, with the help of  Tony Scott I’m sure,  just nails it with the language and tone as he insults the Sicilian as he realizes he is facing certain death whether or not  he gives up his son. In true Dennis Hopper fashion he verbably and intellectually  sticks a middle finger in the Sicilian’s face, choosing not to give up his blood and savoring his Chesterfield before the inevitable.

His method acting was is a beautiful thing to watch. He had a thing about that middle finger. He was the counter-culture before their was a counter-culture. He was cooler then cool. Let’s hope he finds his “Freedom” now. R.I.P.

		PHOTOJOURNALIST
"Do you know what the man is saying? Do you? This is dialectics.
It's very simple dialectics. One through nine, no maybes, no
supposes, no fractions -- you can't travel in space, you can't go out
into space, you know, without, like, you know, with fractions -- what
are you going to land on, one quarter, three-eighths -- what are you
going to do when you go from here to Venus or something -- that's
dialectic physics, OK? Dialectic logic is there's only love and hate, you
either love somebody or you hate them."

Kurtz throws a book angrily at him :

		PHOTOJOURNALIST
"This is the way the fucking world ends! Look at this fucking shit
we're in, man! Not with a bang, with a whimper. And with a whimper,
I'm fucking splitting, jack!"

Photojournalist leaves :

That line that always ended with this face never got old!  It still makes me laugh 30 some odd years later.  Regardless of his troubled personal life and chronic health issues, he gave us all the gift of laughter.  Such a shame he got fleeced for $18 million. But he took it on the chin and tried to earn a decent living. The younger generations don’t know what they missed!  R.I.P Gary Coleman!

As Lost finally concludes, it is evident how much of a cultural and generational impact this show has had. This is evident in the myriad of articles and postings found throughout the blogosphere all the way to main stream media such as the Wall Street Journal. Many of these posting attempt to give a final explanation to the series. This is not one of those. Many of these attempt to answer lingering questions left open by the writers for interpretation. I won’t attempt to answer any of these burning questions. I am however amazed at the sheer amount of angles that have been covered by some of these articles already but also by the many comments. There seems to be a love/hate relationship with the LOST series and especially with the finale. So many people are confused by what they just witnessed. Some are perplexed. People have vested so much and thus have been so polarized by not being fulfilled by the conclusion. Yet so many others have come to terms with the fates of their favorite characters and are at peace with the ending. I am in this camp. Although I am so lost and confused and have my own questions like so many others, I am fully satisfied with the well fitted ending. I have watched this series from the beginning and although at times fell off the wagon, was able to catch up and keep up with one of the most iconic television shows in television history. Some may laugh at that now but I believe LOST is truly an iconic work of art that will go down as such and will be tied to this generation forever. It speaks volumes to the many talents that brought it to life logistically, not to mention artistically as well. It is obvious looking back to the very first episode at the deliberate nature of what the writers were trying to convey.  And it is even more amazing that they actually pulled it off 6 years later. As with any art, it has its flaws and leaves plenty of room for interpretation.  That’s the beauty of art though. Some people will look at it and may see complete randomness while others will see many complicated layers, colors,  and deliberate brush strokes. People should take it at face value and for what its worth and apply what they can to their own lives. If nothing else it was entertaining and will allow for debate and interpretation for generations to come.

This is the end, beautiful friend, this is the end, my only friend, the end, of our elaborate plans, the end, of everything that stands the end, no safety or surprise, the end, I’ll never look into your eyes… again, can you picture what will be, so limitless and free, desperately in need… of some… strangers hand, in a desperate land… the end.

Iconix, a brand management company, has partnered with the family of the original Peanuts characters’ creator, Charles Schultz to acquire, in an 80/20 split,  licensing and rights to the beloved Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the rest of the gang.I thought this was rather telling of something that has been so iconic that it has transcended at least 3 full generations. Born out the baby boomers generation The Peanuts Gang was relevant to my generation and  $175 million speaks volumes on how relevant it is to todays generations. Theres just something about the Peanuts that has always been so cool!

I caught a short clip about the contraversy surrounding Window Seat on the evening news tonight. My first reaction from what little I did see was  did she really just do that. Hallowed ground, kids around or not it was beautiful. I just had to check it out for myself as I’ve always been a fan of hers and downloaded the album a few days ago but haven’t had a chance to listen to it yet. I actually came across Erykah’s interview with the Dallas News before I caught the full video at her official website. Her explanation is actually fascinating.

“Liberating yourself from layers and layers of skin or demons that are a hindrance to your growth or freedom, or evolution.”

I can relate to that. I have layers and demons that need to be shed. I’m not going to shed my clothes in front of the grassy knowl but I can respect the artistic freedom of expression in this and its inspiring to my own self expression.

The guerilla video is absolutely amazing.  In the article with the Dallas News she talks about being petrified and frightened as she began shedding her clothes and the insecurities and vulnerabilities about her body. You could actually see it in her eyes and face as she gets closer and closer to being completely naked.  I love how politically charging Erykah has always been and this is why the place is important and the panorama shot at the very end showing the 360 degree view of the grassy knoll, the Texas School Book Repository, and the American flags waving in the background.

I love this whether or not she just dropped an album and is doing it for the publicity. Of course shes doing it for the publicity. That’s the business. But she has always been true to the artist within her and conciouse of the politics and social environment . This is no exception. And I love what she says in response to whether she considered the children. She was honest. “I didn’t think about them until I saw them, and in my mind I tried to telepathically communicate my good intent to them.”

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I don’t know how many people are following this late night feud between Obrien and Leno but its making for some great monologues. Its getting kinda nasty but we like it. This has got to be some of the best material since, well, Tiger Woods. I don’t  know the business of late night as far as the dollars and cents, advertisers and ratings, and all the politics involved, so this might not be worth a grain of salt, but  as a casual and more often then not viewer of late night talk shows, I will say this. NBC will be making a huge mistake if they force O’brien to leave. He has earned his spot as the rightful successor of The Tonight Show. O’brien is an extraordinarily talented interviewer, always real, always spontaneous, quick witted, not to mention one of the funniest personalities and writers in all of television. The Tonight Show is an American staple and losing it would be a shame.

I awoke this morning to hear the tragic news of a beautiful young actress dead at age 32. Brittany Murphy. I am bewildered by this as many of us are. For myself, Brittany Murphy had a cultural significance and an impact on me.  She came from the  same generation as I, an xchoboomer, caught between two generations. In 1995, I fell in love with her as Tai, the refreshingly herself, grunged out, fowl-mouthed, pot smoking ugly duckling taken under the wing by the popular Cher, played by Alicia Silverstone, also amazingly beautiful in her own particular and unique vegan ways.  Murphy’s grittiness in 8-mile and particularly and ironically, The Dead Girl,  really stood out in my mind as how much she has matured as an actress, along with my tastes I suppose. As a fan I’d like to pass along my condolences to her family.

2009 has brought us the deaths of many culturally and personally significant individuals, many of whom continue to have an impact on my life. I would like to acknowledge them here.

Michael Jackson arguably the most significant from a cultural perspective. His impact on music and dance will influence generations. His music will always have a personal affect on me as many of his hits still bring back childhood memories.

Ted Kennedy, the most significant loss from a political perspective was admired by many, even those who despise politicians. There was a humbleness and determination about Ted that resonated with me. Last year, I got a chance to visit Arlington National Cemetery in Washington D.C. and I visited the graves of his brothers John and Robert. The legacy of these three individuals will never die!

Walter Cronkite – Although first hand memories of this anchorman are non-existent, as a former student of the profession, I can appreciate his contribution to the craft. So many important events of American history are intertwined with his voice. He has manifested himself in so many others I’ve watched and admired. Some whom have left us in spirit like Peter Jennings, and Don Hewitt – another one we lost this year – and some that have left us by choice such as Ted Koppel.  FYI,  Nightline just isn’t the same.

Don Hewitt – 60 minutes has been a staple throughout my life. Thank you!

Dom Deluise – Your zest for life will always be an inspiration to me.

Chuck Daly – You were our bitter rival, but I’m sad to see you go.

Robert Mcnamara – I admire your strength and courage in acknowledging that you were wrong.

John Hughes – Many xchoboomers would be shells of themselves if it wasn’t for your movies. Who can forget the Breakfast Club, Ferris Beuller’s Day Off, Wierd Science, National Lampoons Vacation and the many others. The 80′s get a bad rap but you were the shit!

Les Paul – The impact you had indirectly on my life is unmeasurable by the music of so many. It’s the music that keeps my soul grounded!

Ed Mcmahon – I may be young but I still can remember a time when it was Johnny Carson and his sidekick Ed Mcmahon every night. And Star Search, the original American Idol, was a childhood favorite. Not to mention the posterchild of the millionare’s sweepstakes I was sure my parents had won and urged them to mail it in… haha. I was sad to see the grim financial reality of your last days. Have these people no shame?

Adam Goldstein ( DJ AM ) – Although I’ve never seen DJ AM  live his work has had personal significance. Most notably the Crazy Town single “Butterfly” as the song seemingly referenced a lover of mine at the time of its release. Also the work with Papa Roach, Dilated Peoples and most recently N.A.S.A as these are all influences of mine. This whole final destination situation freaks me out.

Fafrah Fawcett – Who could forget this angel?

Charles “Mask” Lewis – From the UFC world an unforgettable character.

Patrick Swayze – From a cult classic and favorite of mine… “Valle con dios!”

UPDATE: Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan – Drummer of Avenged Sevenfold and only 28 years old. Óg agus saor go deo (forever young and free)

Others I’d like to acknowledge. Jim Carroll, Eunice Shriver,  Steve Mcnair,  Billie Mays, David Carradine, , Bea Arthur, Marilyn Chambers, Nick Adenheart, Jeremy Lusk of Metal Mulisha, Jett Travolta, Socks the cat, and The taco bell dog.

This blog was meant to be an outlet for me to express my views on culture, life, politics, and current events. This was not meant to be an obituary but due to my busy schedule leading to a lack of commitment of posting on a regular basis, it seems that is what it has become. Because culture is such an important theme in this blog, I felt I couldn’t write without acknowledging some of those whom we have lost that have had such a significant impact on our culture. I’d like to extend condolences to all the families and may they all rest in peace.

Iwould like to make a commitment here and now that I will post as often as I can.

Sometimes it just doesnt matter!

I think we were all shocked this week when we heard about the death of David Caradine and the bizarre stories surrounding his passing.  Now I just want to say a few things about this. I didnt realize how someone like David Caradine had influenced my life until the other day when I heard the news and I was so upset about it.  I grew up watching reruns of Kung Fu and was glad to see the rebirth of David Carradine in Tarrantino’s Kill Bill Series. I’m a fan. And frankly I’m upset by some of  the misinformation, incompetence, and handling of this case by the Thai Authorities. Sometimes the details just dont matter.  Let me illustrate this with a story. An old friends sibling past a way a few years ago from tragic circumstances. Although I attended the funeral in support of an old friend, I still dont know what the cause of death was, I didnt ask, as I could see the pain in their eyes and I realized that was of little relevance. Sometimes it just doesnt matter! RIP Mr. David Carradine, aka, the snake charmer, aka, Kwai Chang Caine!

He will live on in the spirit of us all!