Once again, Mayor Adrian Fenty has managed to appear peculiar. In this case there may be more than a little element of D.C. politicking. The mayor has got to start preparing for his next race for mayor. Fortunately, an absentee mayor has never been a political handicap in Washington, D.C. A mayor here is expected to enjoy as many "perks" as possible, while in office. Life is short; get what you can.
If the mayor is such a typical D.C. mayor, why do I dare to employ the word "peculiar?"
Today's news by television developed the issue of Mayor Fenty making a move against billboard advertisers in the District of Columbia. Apparently, a neighborhood association was organized to force the removal of unwanted billboards, which had long urged the public to buy this or that. As I recall there were two - possibly three - billboards involved. As far as I could tell, they provided a visual shield against some unsightly, abandoned houses.
As I previously mentioned, electioneering has already begun. Mayor Fenty has suddenly become attentive to the desires of this association formed to remove billboards from the city. This group does not appear to be without ambitions to "bring change" to the whole city. Mayor Fenty doesn't want to be their victim; there's just too much of the world he has not yet visited. He NEEDS another term of office.
Does this make him peculiar? No, it does not.
What is peculiar about the entire matter is that the buildings of District of Columbia are often given over to "artists" to paint images on building walls. Few of these have artistic merit. There are hundreds of buildings that have been "improved" by artist, craftsmen, amateurs (adult and children), and vandals. Some D.C. buildings have several images which make the word "primitive" seem suggestive of Michelangelo. They are eye-sores! The District government is very proud of this kindergarten image-making.
On the other hand the companies that construct the ad imagery include skillful photographers, models, set designers and ad copy. At least the imagery making falls under the category of "commercial art." If it is a lesser and more meretricious form of art, it still maintains the title of "art." This word cannot be said to truthfully apply to 90% or more of the image-making seen on District buildings' sides, backs, and even fronts. They are frivolous and without merit.
Parenthetically, the huge ads of commercial artists that sometimes can be seen from the East-West Freeway on adjacent buildings might arguably be described as "traffic hazards," due to the use of strikingly good-looking women in imagery that pitches a sale to the passing traffic. This can't be said for the District's beloved "The People's Collages" festooning the walls of many hapless buildings.
What is odd is that from top to bottom in the District of Columbia, this image-making with oils, spray-paint, and the like is viewed warmly as expressing the "diversity of inspiration" among the people of this city. Virtually no one in the District can distinguish a traditionally Western standard of beauty from a traditionally Western perception of ugly and incompetent.
The latter point underlies the District's descent into the egalitarian false-view of "It's all good!" In this limited sense, the District may be a kind of negative avant-garde leader, with the rest of America falling into the "V" formation which is typical of geese. In the District even the heads of famous Art Museums applaud the "people's art."
Can one praise or respect people of low standards - or none at all? This is the ugly essence of the movers and shakers of the District, as well as the masses of incompetent "artists" dwelling therein. Since the rest of the people are very comfortable with either, there is no real diversity in the District. The District is a confederation of people of pre-primitive sensibilities.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
SKINS SCALPED
As a working stiff, I haven't had an opportunity to see the Washington Redskins play this year. As there has been so much controversy amongst the various elements of Redskins Inc., I thought I'd take a look at the Monday Night Football. In that featured game the Redskins would take on the New York Giants.
There was much chatter about Mr. Daniel Snyder hiring Mr. Bruce Allen as the new "general manager" of the Redskins, what that might mean to the future of Jim Zorn, the present football coach, and what it meant to the team and to the fans. Sports pundits perused every angle.
With that as a preface, I made bold to get a network featuring the Monday Night Football game to manifest itself on my quirky television. I succeeded.
Almost immediately I saw that this game was between a good professional football team (Giants) and Confusion Incarnate. The Redskins football team played such an inconceivably inept game that one wondered how they managed to maintain their status as a "National Football League" team.
Then it occurred to me that there may have been a plot amongst certain Redskins to "throw the game" to hasten the exit of Jim Zorn. I do recall Jason Campbell during the training camp period making some comment about Coach Zorn's "little arm." The reference was to the coach (a former quarterback) tossing a few balls to illustrate how he wanted a pass thrown on a certain pattern. Basically, I sensed then that Coach Zorn wasn't really respected by important elements of the team.
If the players aren't "into" a coach by one means or the other, he's going to have a hard time melding them into a team with a common purpose. Instead, there will be a bunch of individuals out there, each of whom cherishes his own thing. Patterns are run by receivers according to how they think they should be run, while the quarterback throws according to how he thinks the patterns should be run. The coach has his own views about how patterns should be run, but his results are so poorly realized that an new offensive play-caller is brought in midstream. He, too, has his view of how a pattern should be run. Professional anarchy replaced professional football.
Jason Campbell got so little protection from his offensive line that he became "unglued." How could anyone focus with several Giant hands swatting at his head on every play? Further, Campbell's short passes were so inept that they brought back memories of Redskin QB Schroeder. It can't help when one is 6' 4" and one's receivers are 5' 9", while Giants are pouring into the backfield.
There were laughable plays by the Redskins in this game. Not good!
Jim Zorn appears at press time as a pathetic, stupified mensch, blandly reaching for some credible comment to serve the wolves now gathered for the feast.
The Giant dominance was so complete that they were grinning from ear-to-ear half way through the second quarter. Party time!
I did have to commend No. 44 of the Giants, who ran very well. Eli Manning, Giant QB, also looked good. If the Giants get into the Play-Offs, they may go far. Getting hot at the right time is more important than regular season records.
If the Redskins didn't purposely "dog" or "tank," then they must be judged to be a frivolous bunch without much merit. There are too many chiefs in the organization and too few braves. If they had any pride, they might offer to give back some of their pay. Not that Mr. Snyder needs it, but it might go to some worthy cause.
There was much chatter about Mr. Daniel Snyder hiring Mr. Bruce Allen as the new "general manager" of the Redskins, what that might mean to the future of Jim Zorn, the present football coach, and what it meant to the team and to the fans. Sports pundits perused every angle.
With that as a preface, I made bold to get a network featuring the Monday Night Football game to manifest itself on my quirky television. I succeeded.
Almost immediately I saw that this game was between a good professional football team (Giants) and Confusion Incarnate. The Redskins football team played such an inconceivably inept game that one wondered how they managed to maintain their status as a "National Football League" team.
Then it occurred to me that there may have been a plot amongst certain Redskins to "throw the game" to hasten the exit of Jim Zorn. I do recall Jason Campbell during the training camp period making some comment about Coach Zorn's "little arm." The reference was to the coach (a former quarterback) tossing a few balls to illustrate how he wanted a pass thrown on a certain pattern. Basically, I sensed then that Coach Zorn wasn't really respected by important elements of the team.
If the players aren't "into" a coach by one means or the other, he's going to have a hard time melding them into a team with a common purpose. Instead, there will be a bunch of individuals out there, each of whom cherishes his own thing. Patterns are run by receivers according to how they think they should be run, while the quarterback throws according to how he thinks the patterns should be run. The coach has his own views about how patterns should be run, but his results are so poorly realized that an new offensive play-caller is brought in midstream. He, too, has his view of how a pattern should be run. Professional anarchy replaced professional football.
Jason Campbell got so little protection from his offensive line that he became "unglued." How could anyone focus with several Giant hands swatting at his head on every play? Further, Campbell's short passes were so inept that they brought back memories of Redskin QB Schroeder. It can't help when one is 6' 4" and one's receivers are 5' 9", while Giants are pouring into the backfield.
There were laughable plays by the Redskins in this game. Not good!
Jim Zorn appears at press time as a pathetic, stupified mensch, blandly reaching for some credible comment to serve the wolves now gathered for the feast.
The Giant dominance was so complete that they were grinning from ear-to-ear half way through the second quarter. Party time!
I did have to commend No. 44 of the Giants, who ran very well. Eli Manning, Giant QB, also looked good. If the Giants get into the Play-Offs, they may go far. Getting hot at the right time is more important than regular season records.
If the Redskins didn't purposely "dog" or "tank," then they must be judged to be a frivolous bunch without much merit. There are too many chiefs in the organization and too few braves. If they had any pride, they might offer to give back some of their pay. Not that Mr. Snyder needs it, but it might go to some worthy cause.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
SCHMOOZING WITH THE DEAD
Your faithful, ambulance-chasing John Q. Public was doing his thing yesterday, listening to my preferred "Traffic, Weather and 'News'" radio station, when I was startled to hear the name of Adrian Fenty, mayor of Washington, D.C. mentioned. Mayor Fenty is the arrogant bikester and "homeboy trotter" who has been mentioned before by me in my blog comments.
What was the issue that engendered a reporter/commentator's indignation which his radio audience was forced to consider?
Let me provide the readers who are not denizens of D.C. Metro some recent history. The owner of the Washington Wizards (formerly Baltimore Bullets) died recently. He was also a prominent figure in the real estate scene locally. He may have properties elsewhere, also. Still, he is best known for building a sports arena in Largo, MD, which is in Prince Georges County (D.C. suburb), and subsequently, a new sports arena in a relatively unpromising area of the downtown. This new facility is the present home of the Wizards professional basketball team.
In conjunction with the Washington Convention Center the new facility built by the Wizard owner was credited with creating a "renaissance" in that part of downtown Washington, D.C. This renewal was not one of beautiful architecture that seized the imagination of the viewer and impowered the spirit to greater achievements. No one has ever lauded the gentleman-owner of the Wizards on that score - at least no one credible in the area of aesthetics. This renewal was of populations of well-heeled individuals flowing regularly to these two facilities (and to the forest of hotels and restaurants that have arisen to cater to their needs). It is money funneled into this area by fans and convention-goers that revitalized the area. How welcomed this money was!
The buildings themselves are like a cluster of warts on the skin: fascinating, perhaps, to a dermatologists, but not reckoned of much merit or value as examples of architecture to the well-balanced mind.
This owner of the Wizards and builder of buildings became quite rich over time. He was praised for his philanthropy. He appeared to be a man who wanted to leave the world a better place than when he came into it. This in itself would separate him from the great mass of humanity. He retained a certain degree of humility.
A friend within the Jewish community of Washington, D.C., who was a principal in the Giant Food Co. before it was sold, Israel Cohen (as I recall), had referred to him as a "mensch" ("a little man, a common man"). He was not trying to denigrate this owner and builder but praising him for retaining that quality. Perhaps for that reason also he had many devoted friends. He was married to the same woman for fifty-plus years, as I recall. He had children to carry on his way of doing.
This deceased owner of the Wizards was named "Abe Pollin." Clearly, he was a remarkable man.
However, probably contrary to his own character and inclinations, his death has been treated as if it were the death of an important head of state, or a globally revered figure, such as the late Pope John-Paul II or Sister Theresa. He is being presented in his death to first the high and then the low. Politicians of the highest rank have paid their respects. Mr. Pollin has been eulogized by Democrat, Republican, famous athletes, etc. Surely, he has been recognized enough; surely it is time to lay the man to his rest.
But, no. The media at the level of national news may omit certain matters, but the local media is locally focused. The death of Mr. Pollin is "too big" to simply drop.
For that reason this radio "talking voice" took Mayor Adrian Fenty to task for not attending one of the memorial events held in behalf of - of - of the memory of Abe Pollin. No one at this radio station (or anywhere else in Washington) is capable of saying when "enough is enough." Things like the death of Abe Pollin don't end until another bigger and better story arises.
This non-attendance by Mayor Fenty had been mentioned before on this radio station, which is apparently Mormon-owned and Jewish-operated (certainly in terms of talent). One might infer that there is a sub rosa defamation of Adrian Fenty as "anti-Semetic" from the pained tones of the questions regarding his "no-show" at a memorial event. How could anyone not weep and gnash his teeth at the death of such a man? the "talking voice" seemed to lament. The clincher in regard to this is that the radio "talking voice" wondered if Mayor Fenty had not "dissed" Abe Polin and/or his family by not attending the memorial event and, instead, flying down to Miami to watch the Wizards play.
True to character, Mayor Fenty refused to answer the question directly, but hid behind the skirts of his family. He's protecting his family, doncha know? He stone-walled all questions with his insufferable air of overweening arrogance.
What entered my mind was this: Why did not the reporters upbraid the basketball players who comprised the Wizards? They were well-paid beneficiaries of Mr. Pollin's search for a winning team - a champoinship team, which he wanted to give to the people of Washington, D.C. If the memorial event to Abe Pollin was so important, why would his team not be there? If one stated that Abe Pollin "would have wanted his team to play," then why is it not fair to urge that he "would have liked the fans to see the Wizards play, also?" It may be fair to speculate that his spirit was in Miami with his team and, perhaps, sitting right next to Mayor Fenty unbeknownst, rather than at the memorial event with all those other politicians and fakes mumbling pieties and "over-the-top" accolades..
I see in this a false piety, as well as inequality of treatment.
How could it happen? Many people who are not yuppies, urban pioneers, or manical bikesters detests Mayor Adrian Fenty. One really can't blame the radio station for "grasping at straws." However, maybe Fenty isn't all bad. Maybe he knew Abe Pollin better than the radio "talking voices."
Let Abe Pollin finally have his deserved rest.
What was the issue that engendered a reporter/commentator's indignation which his radio audience was forced to consider?
Let me provide the readers who are not denizens of D.C. Metro some recent history. The owner of the Washington Wizards (formerly Baltimore Bullets) died recently. He was also a prominent figure in the real estate scene locally. He may have properties elsewhere, also. Still, he is best known for building a sports arena in Largo, MD, which is in Prince Georges County (D.C. suburb), and subsequently, a new sports arena in a relatively unpromising area of the downtown. This new facility is the present home of the Wizards professional basketball team.
In conjunction with the Washington Convention Center the new facility built by the Wizard owner was credited with creating a "renaissance" in that part of downtown Washington, D.C. This renewal was not one of beautiful architecture that seized the imagination of the viewer and impowered the spirit to greater achievements. No one has ever lauded the gentleman-owner of the Wizards on that score - at least no one credible in the area of aesthetics. This renewal was of populations of well-heeled individuals flowing regularly to these two facilities (and to the forest of hotels and restaurants that have arisen to cater to their needs). It is money funneled into this area by fans and convention-goers that revitalized the area. How welcomed this money was!
The buildings themselves are like a cluster of warts on the skin: fascinating, perhaps, to a dermatologists, but not reckoned of much merit or value as examples of architecture to the well-balanced mind.
This owner of the Wizards and builder of buildings became quite rich over time. He was praised for his philanthropy. He appeared to be a man who wanted to leave the world a better place than when he came into it. This in itself would separate him from the great mass of humanity. He retained a certain degree of humility.
A friend within the Jewish community of Washington, D.C., who was a principal in the Giant Food Co. before it was sold, Israel Cohen (as I recall), had referred to him as a "mensch" ("a little man, a common man"). He was not trying to denigrate this owner and builder but praising him for retaining that quality. Perhaps for that reason also he had many devoted friends. He was married to the same woman for fifty-plus years, as I recall. He had children to carry on his way of doing.
This deceased owner of the Wizards was named "Abe Pollin." Clearly, he was a remarkable man.
However, probably contrary to his own character and inclinations, his death has been treated as if it were the death of an important head of state, or a globally revered figure, such as the late Pope John-Paul II or Sister Theresa. He is being presented in his death to first the high and then the low. Politicians of the highest rank have paid their respects. Mr. Pollin has been eulogized by Democrat, Republican, famous athletes, etc. Surely, he has been recognized enough; surely it is time to lay the man to his rest.
But, no. The media at the level of national news may omit certain matters, but the local media is locally focused. The death of Mr. Pollin is "too big" to simply drop.
For that reason this radio "talking voice" took Mayor Adrian Fenty to task for not attending one of the memorial events held in behalf of - of - of the memory of Abe Pollin. No one at this radio station (or anywhere else in Washington) is capable of saying when "enough is enough." Things like the death of Abe Pollin don't end until another bigger and better story arises.
This non-attendance by Mayor Fenty had been mentioned before on this radio station, which is apparently Mormon-owned and Jewish-operated (certainly in terms of talent). One might infer that there is a sub rosa defamation of Adrian Fenty as "anti-Semetic" from the pained tones of the questions regarding his "no-show" at a memorial event. How could anyone not weep and gnash his teeth at the death of such a man? the "talking voice" seemed to lament. The clincher in regard to this is that the radio "talking voice" wondered if Mayor Fenty had not "dissed" Abe Polin and/or his family by not attending the memorial event and, instead, flying down to Miami to watch the Wizards play.
True to character, Mayor Fenty refused to answer the question directly, but hid behind the skirts of his family. He's protecting his family, doncha know? He stone-walled all questions with his insufferable air of overweening arrogance.
What entered my mind was this: Why did not the reporters upbraid the basketball players who comprised the Wizards? They were well-paid beneficiaries of Mr. Pollin's search for a winning team - a champoinship team, which he wanted to give to the people of Washington, D.C. If the memorial event to Abe Pollin was so important, why would his team not be there? If one stated that Abe Pollin "would have wanted his team to play," then why is it not fair to urge that he "would have liked the fans to see the Wizards play, also?" It may be fair to speculate that his spirit was in Miami with his team and, perhaps, sitting right next to Mayor Fenty unbeknownst, rather than at the memorial event with all those other politicians and fakes mumbling pieties and "over-the-top" accolades..
I see in this a false piety, as well as inequality of treatment.
How could it happen? Many people who are not yuppies, urban pioneers, or manical bikesters detests Mayor Adrian Fenty. One really can't blame the radio station for "grasping at straws." However, maybe Fenty isn't all bad. Maybe he knew Abe Pollin better than the radio "talking voices."
Let Abe Pollin finally have his deserved rest.
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