White Ford Bronco
Bookrat
in Los Angeles. I assume their fellow drivers are giving them considerable
berth.
This is truly surreal. The pursuit is being carried live by four broadcast
stations here, two in English and two in Spanish. The slowness of the chase
adds to the peculiarity of the situation. Add to that the number of people
who are lining up on the overpasses to watch the caravan pass by, and the
civilian cars who are driving by and <slowing down> to look inside the
car...truly a strange and yet somehow quintessentially American incident.
Ken Miller
kcmi...@netcom.com
Karen Kay
> This is truly surreal. The pursuit is being carried live by four broadcast
> stations here, two in English and two in Spanish.
I changed the channel. I'd rather watch Hulk Hogan than that.
Karen
kar...@netcom.com
Ken Miller
> > This is truly surreal. The pursuit is being carried live by four broadcast
> > stations here, two in English and two in Spanish.
>
> I changed the channel. I'd rather watch Hulk Hogan than that.
For those of you in other areas, Karen is referring to a movie, not a WWF
event. HH is purportedly acting in it.
At any rate, it's the communal media event aspect that interests me. A
routine police chase of a murder suspect is being watched by millions of
people as though it were the most important event in the world, and the
media is happy to oblige them and, as is its wont (and don't give me a
hard time about using "media" as a singular noun) it partakes of the
action itself. This is the sort of thing that TV journalism (if that isn't
an oxymoron) does best, which is to say make a spectacle out of ordinary
news.
Then again, I just heard a news reporter use the word "surreal", which
apparently describes the crowd at the scene.
Ken Miller
kcmi...@netcom.com
Karen Kay
> For those of you in other areas, Karen is referring to a movie, not a WWF
> event. HH is purportedly acting in it.
No, no, it's a TV show. Weekly. This is some kind of landmark
year--Chuck Norris and Hulk Hogan each w/ their own TV shows...
Karen
kar...@netcom.com
Emily Horning
events, particularly the party atmosphere along the freeway and in Brent-
wood, I'm still troubled that I've seen my old neighborhood on national
television a lot lately, what with fires, earthquakes and now this.
Like a bad movie, I can't wait for it to be over.
It's bizarre. To me, anyway.
Emily, waiting for alt.fan.oj to appear on usenet
Bookrat
>
>Emily, waiting for alt.fan.oj to appear on usenet
By now, some entrepreneur probably has "Free Juice" T-shirts and buttons
rolling off the press.
Damn, I wish I'd thought of it earlier.
Ken Miller
Chief Trendologist
Nerdwear Inc.
kcmi...@netcom.com
Dan Lester
>>Emily, waiting for alt.fan.oj to appear on usenet
>By now, some entrepreneur probably has "Free Juice" T-shirts and buttons
>rolling off the press.
>Damn, I wish I'd thought of it earlier.
Well, there sure were a lot of folks with signs along the freeways.
I'm wondering how the traffic chopper guys in LA reported the tie
ups and closed ramps....
But....would it be alt.fan.oj OR alt.fan.o.j. ???
cyclops
Dan Lester
>Univision was announcing in Spanish the surrender of OJ at least four
>or five minutes before any of the Eng Language Networks. I saw it
>myself. Wonder how they got it before NBC,CBS,ABC, who were busy
>talking about how much like a Hollywood movie all this was.
Nope. Did NOT beat CBS. Were second, though. Meanwhile ABC and NBC
were showing videotape replays of other earlier events. And the
dorky ABC guy in the tie who got his plug pulled was still trying to
find his earphone again.
cyclops
Bandwidth Pig
>At any rate, it's the communal media event aspect that interests me. A
My favorite moment: the voice narrating said something to the effect that
if in any way their helicopter was impeding police investigations or
endangering the parties involved, they would stand away. It was by then
after dark and there was hardly any usable video at all.
-abh
Karen Kay
> Univision has the best newscasts, the best talkshow host (Cristina),
Is that the blond woman?
Karen
kar...@netcom.com
Karen Kay
> That's the one, and she is really great. The guests are always
> fascinating, and she deals with them with a <guante de ante>.
Yes. I used to watch her in L.A. She's the reason I wanted to learn
Spanish.
Karen
kar...@netcom.com
Charles Stanford
I think Blondes have more brains.
Karen Kay
> I think Blondes have more brains.
Let me guess--U R 1???
Karen
kar...@netcom.com
Dr. David Chaos
>action itself. This is the sort of thing that TV journalism (if that isn't
>an oxymoron) does best, which is to say make a spectacle out of ordinary
>news.
case I must take issue with your "ordinary news" statement. While a double
murder in California is not news, it certainly becomes so when the prime suspect
is one with the stature of O.J. Simpson. I suspect many people, including
myself, find this situation difficult to reconcile. On one hand, I have no
problem detesting murderers. On the other hand, I find it difficult to dislike
O.J. Simpson as the person he used to represent. I found that as I watched the
events unfold, I was constantly asking myself why I felt sorry for him. It
seems this event caused me, and likely many others, a good bit of confusion at
the dichotomy it presented. That alone would make it "news", at least to us
that might feel this way.
Watching an "American hero" come apart, so rapidly, disturbs many of us. In
the end, if he is found guilty, most people will have adjusted to the facts.
Personally, I would be very surprised if he didn't commit the murders. When
the time comes that he is required to pay for his crimes (again, if he is
convicted) I will be ready to see him punished. At the very least, he is one
very ill human being and no matter what happens, virtually no one will ever
see him as a hero again.
Seeing all this occur, over a five day period, is news indeed.
Dr. David Chaos
Bookrat
>I think Blondes have more brains.
Okay, who wants to get out the canonical list of blond jokes?
And, bringing up an earlier thread, lets have the original Julie Brown sing
"'Cause I'm a Blond".
Ken Miller
Archivist and Assistant Phonometrographer
The Satie Institute for Phonometrographical Research
kcmi...@netcom.com
Charles Stanford
> Charles Stanford said:
> > I think Blondes have more brains.
>
> Let me guess--U R 1???
>
> Karen
> kar...@netcom.com
Yeah, you got me. Then puberty set in. *sigh* Now I'm only blonde
during the summer.
Bandwidth Pig
>Univision has the best newscasts, the best talkshow host (Cristina),
>and the worst soaps. Anyone who doesnt agree can stuff an enchilada,
Hey, Giggles, do you watch "Siempre en Domingo?" I do.
-abh
Bandwidth Pig
>Yes. I used to watch her in L.A. She's the reason I wanted to learn
>Spanish.
I wonder if she feels the same way about English and Dolly Parton.
-abh
Brad Grissom
by the Words-L network. I went to bed early and missed the live drama,
but caught up quickly with a 4am immersion in The English Language
Discussion Group. All the immediacy, all the expert opinion, all the
exploration of side issues were there.
brad
Karen Kay
Bookrat
>>action itself. This is the sort of thing that TV journalism (if that isn't
>>an oxymoron) does best, which is to say make a spectacle out of ordinary
>>news.
>
>I often find myself agreeing with you on a variety of issues. However, in this
>case I must take issue with your "ordinary news" statement. While a double
>murder in California is not news, it certainly becomes so when the prime
>suspect
>is one with the stature of O.J. Simpson. I suspect many people, including
>myself, find this situation difficult to reconcile. On one hand, I have no
>problem detesting murderers. On the other hand, I find it difficult to dislike
>O.J. Simpson as the person he used to represent. I found that as I watched the
>events unfold, I was constantly asking myself why I felt sorry for him. It
>seems this event caused me, and likely many others, a good bit of confusion at
>the dichotomy it presented. That alone would make it "news", at least to us
>that might feel this way.
>
>Watching an "American hero" come apart, so rapidly, disturbs many of us.
I understand your reaction, and I also understand that so many people share
it that your analysis is essentially correct, that for many across America
this is a case which directly affects them emotionally.
My own response is based on the fact that I have never bought into the
"athlete as hero" mythos. I do not see how the ability to throw a ball
accurately over long distances, to run faster or longer than anyone else,
et cetera, have any bearing on a person's character. These are measures of
one's physical and mental aptitudes, and especially of one's determination
and toughness, but logically there is no reason why a top athlete should
possess more integrity than a top physicist or a top musician or a top
politician. Character is not measured by professional accomplishments, but
by personal ones.
>In
>the end, if he is found guilty, most people will have adjusted to the facts.
>Personally, I would be very surprised if he didn't commit the murders. When
>the time comes that he is required to pay for his crimes (again, if he is
>convicted) I will be ready to see him punished. At the very least, he is one
>very ill human being and no matter what happens, virtually no one will ever
>see him as a hero again.
I agree that this case has the essential element of Classical tragedy,
namely a hero with a tragic flaw which undoes him. A good catharsis is hard
to come by nowadays, and the Simpson case will certainly provide one. But
again, why do we choose the O.J. Simpsons and the Magic Johnsons and their
ilk as our heroes?
Ken Miller
kcmi...@netcom.com
JOHN WHAT'S-THE-M-FOR? WILLIAMS
>ilk as our heroes?
I have *never* viewed any jock as a hero/idol/role model, and
never understood those who did.
My read on this is a flagrant attempt by Simpson's NEW lawyer to
flagrantly subvert the M'Naughton Rule to spare his {rich} client the
hot squat...
John "If he's black he's an innocent victim of a racist society" W.
Dr. David Chaos
myself.
Dr. David Chaos
JOHN WHAT'S-THE-M-FOR? WILLIAMS
>myself.
I often talk to myself, Dr. C. When one is a brilliant conversation-
alist and also such an attentive listener there is often no other choice...
JMW, proud Wordsler since Yalevm days, and where statistics show that one
out of two of us have never seen a hairdresser eat a banana, and who knows
that if you're dead butch you eat it like an ear of corn.
Doris Smith
> Would someone mind flaming my post or something. I feel like I'm talking to
> myself.
>
My sentiments exactly. I *know* I've been talking to myself, about
subjects ranging from Miata Madness to tomato-eating wild-life to wet
phone wit to who knows what. And I'm glad to make your acquaintance, Dr.
Chaos.
doris
Karen Kay
> My sentiments exactly. I *know* I've been talking to myself, about
> subjects ranging from Miata Madness to tomato-eating wild-life to wet
> phone wit to who knows what.
I've been listening. I just didn't have anything to say on those
topics.
Karen
kar...@netcom.com
Doris Smith
> topics.
>
> Karen
I understand. But I'm <deeply> hurt that Giggles didn't thank me
profusely for pointing the way to an <organized> group of Miata owners.
doris
Bookrat
>myself.
>
Gee. I don't think I've ever done this before; it's certainly not something
I'm accustomed to doing. However, since you insist, and only because you
insist:
Chaos, you whining little specimen of excretia, what the fuck makes you
think that your inane drivel is word two nanoseconds of any marginally
intelligent human being's time? Your propensity for patiently listening to
your own droning voice is easily explained by the fact that you are the
only simpleton on earth dimwitted enough to do so. Get a life, and I mean
that quite literally, since it is obvious from your gibbering prattle that
you are about as sentient as a rotting tree trunk.
(GT, TS, how did I do?)
Ken Miller
Dissembler General
Strategic Disinformation Command
kcmi...@netcom.com
who is off to take lessons from M*rtin H*nnigan
Karen Kay
Bookrat
>> (GT, TS, how did I do?)
>
>Not enough typos.
>
>Karen
I didn't put in any typoes for the same reason that I didn't put in any
"quotes". Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but it's the
mark of an unimaginative student. The pupil must strive to emulate the
masters without imitating them.
Ken Miller
Professor of Marxian Dielectrics
University of Freedonia
kcmi...@netcom.com
Tushar Samant
Did he ask YOU? Quit your goddamn disruptive officious uninformed
irrelevant dull unnecessary shrieking. By the way, I don't flame,
if by flaming is meant some crap that was submitted some time ago,
oh so cutesily. Idiots whom I will not name should understand that
whatever notion they might have about flaming being an "art form",
worth evaluating or cultivating, is among the most uncultured ones
one can ever sport. You might well get your jollies out of whoring
your rhetorical abilities for or against any given topic; just be
kind enough to realize that I don't give a fuck to such degrading
activity, in addition to judging you to be one fervent coprophile.
Bookrat
in Los Angeles. I assume their fellow drivers are giving them considerable
berth.
This is truly surreal. The pursuit is being carried live by four broadcast
stations here, two in English and two in Spanish. The slowness of the chase
adds to the peculiarity of the situation. Add to that the number of people
who are lining up on the overpasses to watch the caravan pass by, and the
civilian cars who are driving by and <slowing down> to look inside the
car...truly a strange and yet somehow quintessentially American incident.
Ken Miller
kcmi...@netcom.com
Karen Kay
> I didn't put in any typoes for the same reason that I didn't put in any
Any? Then you had at least one non-word. It's 'excreta' not 'excretia'.
Karen
kar...@netcom.com
Dr. David Chaos
>My own response is based on the fact that I have never bought into the
>"athlete as hero" mythos. I do not see how the ability to throw a ball
>accurately over long distances, to run faster or longer than anyone else,
>et cetera, have any bearing on a person's character. These are measures of
>one's physical and mental aptitudes, and especially of one's determination
>and toughness, but logically there is no reason why a top athlete should
>possess more integrity than a top physicist or a top musician or a top
>politician. Character is not measured by professional accomplishments, but
>by personal ones.
with your position on the "athlete hero". However, in Simpson's case, I recall
him being involved in many positive things other than sports. Unfortunately,
I was never privvy to his wife-beating incidents. Therefore, my view of him
was skewed by his positive "public face". It seems that even quality athletic
shoes are capable of shoeing clay feet.
Dr. David Chaos
Dr. David Chaos
> I often talk to myself, Dr. C. When one is a brilliant conversation-
>alist and also such an attentive listener there is often no other choice...
>
>JMW, proud Wordsler since Yalevm days, and where statistics show that one
>out of two of us have never seen a hairdresser eat a banana, and who knows
>that if you're dead butch you eat it like an ear of corn.
Dr. David Chaos
Dr. David Chaos
>Chaos, you whining little specimen of excretia, what the fuck makes you
>think that your inane drivel is word two nanoseconds of any marginally
>intelligent human being's time? Your propensity for patiently listening to
>your own droning voice is easily explained by the fact that you are the
>only simpleton on earth dimwitted enough to do so. Get a life, and I mean
>that quite literally, since it is obvious from your gibbering prattle that
>you are about as sentient as a rotting tree trunk.
>(GT, TS, how did I do?)
>
>Ken Miller
here and on the usenet.
Dr. David Chaos
Sharon S. Scott
>again, why do we choose the O.J. Simpsons and the Magic Johnsons and their
>ilk as our heroes?
I don't consider them heroes, although apparently a large number of people
do. My only heroes/heroines are people I know personally--friends,
teachers, co-workers, family members--people that have made a difference in
my life. No sports figure has ever done that.
sharon
sco...@baylor.edu
Natalie Maynor
This depends on the kind of hero we're talking about. Famous people of
just about any ilk can be tragic heroes. The only requirement is to be
in high position and to fall as a result at least partially of your own
hamartia.
--Natalie (may...@ra.msstate.edu)
Mr G Toal
>
>>Chaos, you whining little specimen of excretia, what the fuck makes you
>>think that your inane drivel is word two nanoseconds of any marginally
>>intelligent human being's time? Your propensity for patiently listening to
>>your own droning voice is easily explained by the fact that you are the
>>only simpleton on earth dimwitted enough to do so. Get a life, and I mean
>>that quite literally, since it is obvious from your gibbering prattle that
>>you are about as sentient as a rotting tree trunk.
>
Not very good. Just calling someone rude names doesn't count as a
flame - you have to make them *feel* small. That one would just wash
off his back. Now, if you really wanted to flame David, all you have
to do is ask him if his life is complete now he's had a letter published
in Wired...
G
Tushar Samant
>My only heroes/heroines are people I know personally--friends,
>teachers, co-workers, family members--people that have made a
>difference in my life.
But this also seems to imply that people you don't know personally
don't make any difference in your life.
tushar
Sharon S. Scott
>make any difference in your life.
>tushar
Perhaps you're right, Tushar--people I don't know personally can affect my
life. But sports figures do not make a difference in my life.
sharon
sco...@baylor.edu
Doris Smith
> not since <ts> made those awful verses directed at me. I'm still
> nursing my wounds. I loved the Miata story. And the grandbaby story.
> --ggs
>
Good. I feel better now.
<ts> has gone <verse crazy> lately, hasn't he?
doris
Brad Grissom
>doris
The barneyfest he so lamented he has on his own initiative initiated.
Bookrat
>doris
"Tushar, this is stupid stuff:
You write your verses fast enough;
There isn't much behind them, though,
As on and on and on you go.
Upon my word, the verse you make
Makes poetasters groan and ache."
Ken Miller
Poetaster Emeritus
Anacreonitick Academy of Zymurgicomusicology
kcmi...@netcom.com
who will quite shortly look into the pewter pot to see the world as the
world's not, and quite possibly break into a few strains of "The Housman of
the Rising Sun"
Doris Smith
> The barneyfest he so lamented he has on his own initiative initiated.
>
doris
Natalie Maynor
> life. But sports figures do not make a difference in my life.
Are you ruling out sports figures as ever being able to make a difference
in your life (as your first posting on the subject implied), or are you
simply saying that it happens that no sports figures have influenced you
so far?
--Natalie (may...@ra.msstate.edu)
Sharon S. Scott
>in your life (as your first posting on the subject implied), or are you
>simply saying that it happens that no sports figures have influenced you
>so far?
> --Natalie (may...@ra.msstate.edu)
No sports figures have influenced me so far, and I can't imagine that they
ever would.
Sharon
sco...@baylor.edu
Dan Lester
><ts> has gone <verse crazy> lately, hasn't he?
Oh, is THAT what it is sposed to be??
cyclops
Natalie Maynor
> ever would.
You assume that this whole segment of the population is automatically
unworthy of your attention since anybody who happens to be part of that
group couldn't possibly have anything of value to contribute to your life?
That's sad.
--Natalie (may...@ra.msstate.edu)
Graham Toal
: No sports figures have influenced me so far, and I can't imagine that they
: ever would.
Talking of which, I'm finding it *extremely* hard to think of a single
British personality who would have been treated the way Simpson was.
(I.e. cheered on in public after being accused of a brutal double-slaying)
The only person I can think of is the Queen Mum. At a pinch, Princess
Di if she offed big-ears :-)
G
Sharon S. Scott
>unworthy of your attention since anybody who happens to be part of that
>group couldn't possibly have anything of value to contribute to your life?
>That's sad.
> --Natalie (may...@ra.msstate.edu)
No, what I said was that I can't imagine that a sports figure would ever
influence me. I know no sports figures, don't watch sports, thus I am at a
loss to determine how a sports figure could contribute anything to my life.
Sharon
sco...@baylor.edu
Natalie Maynor
> influence me. I know no sports figures, don't watch sports, thus I am at a
> loss to determine how a sports figure could contribute anything to my life.
Sports figures sometimes do other things also -- not just sports. Btw,
when OJ was still missing, my mother said to me that surely he'd be
recognized, that even she would recognize him. I said I wouldn't. I
had heard his name, of course, but had no idea what he looked like until
he started showing up in all the newspapers the past few days. (The
connection between my first sentence above and the rest of what I wrote
is that apparently OJS did things other than sports since my mother knew
who he was because of other things he did.)
--Natalie (may...@ra.msstate.edu)
Tushar Samant
>No, what I said was ...
By the way, positions are still open in the Natalie Fan Club (Adoration
of the Natalie in every being).
tushar
Bill Merrill
>
>Talking of which, I'm finding it *extremely* hard to think of a single
>British personality who would have been treated the way Simpson was.
>(I.e. cheered on in public after being accused of a brutal double-slaying)
God I love the 90s. Cellular in one hand, gun in the other. Cop
chase, helicopters. Sipping on a Weissbier, cheering on O.J. with
the rest of America.
Clinton whines as the world falls apart, and no one's paying attention,
witnessing as though at first hand, now grieving the fall of a hero.
Bill Merrill
Dan Lester
>God I love the 90s. Cellular in one hand, gun in the other. Cop
>chase, helicopters. Sipping on a Weissbier, cheering on O.J. with
>the rest of America.
>Clinton whines as the world falls apart, and no one's paying attention,
>witnessing as though at first hand, now grieving the fall of a hero.
>
rented and just watched Vanishing Point tonite. And we just thought
that those things were some writer's wild imaginations.
cyclops