Quintessence #2

1. American tennis thrives at Wimbledon - On the July 4 weekend, the Stars and Stripes can really stick it to the Brits in their own backyard. Venus and Serena Williams will square off in the ladies' championship match on Saturday, while Andy Roddick will play in the mens' final on Sunday after trouncing Britain's favorite son Andy Murray. The grass at SW16 will also showcased the depth of U.S. tennis, with American duos featuring in both doubles' championship matches (the Williams in the ladies' draw, twin brothers Mike and Bob Bryan on the mens'). The future looks bright too: three Americans were in the final eight of the boys' singles draw, including Jordan Cox, who will play for the boys' championship on Saturday. The resurgence should appease critics who think American success in tennis is on the decline.
   
2. Free music at Amazon! Go buy your version of The Star-Spangled Banner! Go ahead, browse through hundreds of choices. Props to Kronos Quartet for twittering about it; they've created a version of the national anthem inspired by Jimi Hendrix's cover.
   
3. Taste of Springfield - So far I've had the jambalaya from Augie's, the horseshoe from Catie Girls', the schnitzel from the German Club (outside ToS, but good nonetheless), baklava from Holy Land and shrimp and rice from the Plaza. Where has this Springfield food been all of my life? You can't help but give props to the organizers and the event; restaurants get some great visibility and attract new customers while visitors enjoy some tasty dishes at discounted prices. I didn't see a ToS plate that cost more than $5 . I easily counted three more places to try tomorrow, fireworks be damned!
4. Springfield Farmers' Market - I ride a bike. I rarely visit the grocery store. So when I get the chance to buy fresh, delicious produce near my workplace, I leap at (or pedal to) the opportunity. My weekly goal is to try a fruit or vegetable I've never prepared and/or tasted; two weeks ago it was kale, last week it was rainbow chord. Oh, the savory mysteries of the farmers market.
5. The rights and liberties afforded to citizens in the United States of America - Because things could be worse.
   

Quintessence #1

Welcome to the first of Quintessence, a new series of posts where I espouse about 5 things that I have discovered today (and preferably like) using a maximum of 5 sentences.

1. People who run across the country: Katie Visco, 23, is an Illinois girl who is running from Boston, Massachusetts to San Diego, California. Boston to San Diego! She just finished a visit home and is now moving through Indiana. Her journey will help promote and raise funds for Girls on the Run. Follow Katie's journey.
2. People who bike across the country: As I rode on my bike home from work, I noticed a young man and woman with matching Giant bikes and biking uniforms strolling around the church on the corner of Edwards and Walnut. Curious, I pedaled over to them and asked them if they knew of any bike trails in Springfield. Turns out they weren't from Illinois at all! They're from a group called Bike and Build, which is devoted to constructing new, affordable housing while cycling across the U.S. You can also meet George and Marisa, the two kind souls I biked into, who are going from Providence, Rhode Island, to my old stomping grounds, San Francisco, California.
   
3. This article on how you're not a print journalist unless life's kicking your ass.
4. The appropriately titled "Warm" by Owen Jay, a deep house DJ from the Mediterranean island of Malta. I imagine I could produce this sort of subtle, easy-on-the-ears music if I were from a Mediterranean island. I discovered this track while listening to Deeper Shades of House podcast #299 by Los Angeles-based DJ Lars Behrenroft. "Peepshow" and its layered melodies also provide a good listen.
5. These ridiculously sick mixtapes, I mean, business cards.

Journalistic Movies

I watched Gran Torino Saturday night and I was surprised at its intentionally and unintentionally comedic qualities. Clint Eastwood's character is a Korean War veteran and recent widow who must confront the growing Hmong population in his own neighborhood. I told someone shortly after that it was an interesting mix of "whimsical and violent."

Recommended...and it might have been highly recommended save for some "forced" efforts from Eastwood and cast. Sometimes, Eastwood fits the tough guy role, but sometimes it seems like he's forcing his spew of racial epitaphs. Because the film used a lot of non-professional actors, the film comes off as natural but unpolished. Torino does redeem itself by balancing out whimsical, lighthearted moments with action and suspense.

Even though Eastwood hurls constant demeaning insults, viewers should avoid pigeonholing the story as racist. A viewer could make the valid argument that in the film, Asian American men are emasculated; Asian American scholar Helen Zia once said that Asian American entertainment roles are limited to geeks, gooks, gangstas and geishas, all of which are in the film. But I feel that comprehensively deconstructing the story would prove mostly fruitless. The film touches upon race relations and fluctuating demographics, but I feel that the story would have been similar had Eastwood been confronted with a Latino or African American family. The story's writers are from Minnesota, so it makes sense that they focused on the state's growing Hmong population and resulting racial tensions. But the film really seems more like a power struggle between Eastwood and "minority" neighbors, not necessarily Asian Americans.


While watching the previews, I couldn't help but notice that films are focusing on journalists as lead characters. The Soloist describes the true story of Los Angeles Times reporter Steve Lopez and his relationship with classical musician Nathaniel Ayers. State of Play is based off the BBC drama series and centers on journalists investigating a scandal-laden politician.

Add those to movie playing right now.
Frost/Nixon dramatizes the heavyweight encounter between David Frost and President Richard Nixon. In Marley & Me, John Grogan pens humorous and sentimental columns on his rambunctious mutt Marley.

Why the boon in journalist-movies?

One reason is that viewers easily relate to onscreen journalists because viewers can join these journalists on their discoveries to uncover truth. The viewers are learning at the same time as their journalistic counterparts. The viewers immerse themselves in the journalists' stories.

Another reason is that a journalist as a lead character can lend credibility to the film. All of the aforementioned films except for State of Play are based on true stories. But that does not mean that any of these films portray "pure" truth.

I find it interesting that before the Illinois House voted on Gov. Rod Blagojevich's impeachment, a couple of legislators explained that they had seen Frost/Nixon and cited it as a warning against corrupt politicians.

Of course, the film is a dramatization, as one of the original researchers for David Frost (and a consultant for the film) notes.

But legislators cited the film because it was based on true events.

Films that dramatize journalism nonetheless contain legitimacy. Journalism lends that credibility.

Finally, journalist movies are feel-good movies. Journalists are portrayed as tireless, persistent do-gooders whose sole fault is their stubbornness. Note how with these journalistic movies, the journalists are always the "good" guys? Not a single bad apple among them.

Which is how journalists are in reality, too.