Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed
Big Screen — Movie commentary
Blurt — Music's inside track
Booze News — San Diego spirits
Classical Music — Immortal beauty
Classifieds — Free and easy
Close to Home — What it’s like on the street where you live
Cover Stories — Front-page features
Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes
Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts
Feast! — Food & drink reviews
Feature Stories — Local news & stories
Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore
From the Archives — Spotlight on the past
Golden Dreams — Talk of the town
The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it
Letters — Our inbox
Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites
Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans
Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists
Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news
News Ticker — News & politics
Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated
Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna
Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated
Poetry — The old and the new
Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers
Reading — The hunt for intellectuals
Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails
San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds
SD on the QT — Almost factual news
Sheep and Goats — Places of worship
Special Issues — The best of
Street Style — San Diego streets have style
Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves
Theater — On stage in San Diego this week
Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative
Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work
Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego
Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads
Your Week — Daily event picks
President Obama is Stupidly
How was that low? You wanted a source from a poster on here...so I made a joke. I don't have an insecure bone in my body. Hell, I tell people I meet, that every writer at the Reader can write circles around me. What other writer would do that? (I might think some of them bore the hell out of me, but they can sure write better than me) All I know is...I've debated with you before. And you've done that normal chick move where you get emotional, and are not rational. You also made an incorrect statement. And when I corrected it (In ref to the Woody Allen movie), you try to say that you "knew that," when it was clear you didn't. And a few minutes later, you said "Okay...well, even if I didn't know that..." It's you, that is insecure. So worried about what you did or didn't know about a Woody Allen screenplay. When really, who cares? Some people know things about some subjects, some about others. I'm willing to bet, on 98% of subjects out there, you know more than me. I'm not insecure in admitting that. Unfortunately, in terms of race relations and how people are treated in this country, that's one of the 2% I got ya on.— July 24, 2009 6:30 p.m.
President Obama is Stupidly
I will stick to the issues, but the problem is two-fold. First, you come off like your opinions are so much more valued than, say, someone in a gated community. Or someone that hasn't had the education you have. Or someone who hasn't "seen" what you've seen the police do. If you want to stick to the issues, well...let's start by hearing where you side on Gates vs the police in this one.— July 24, 2009 6:21 p.m.
BREAKING NEWS BLOG -- Michael Jackson and Farrah Die
Spliff...bringing a bong to court. I like that move. You do have some balls on ya, my man. One of my cop friends told me there is nothing in their training that has to do with racial profiling. He said you can profile people for all different reasons. Whether that is gang colors, tattoos you can tell are from their time in the joint, the place they're hanging around (is it outside of the Marine Room, or outside Carl's Jr. on El Cajon Blvd? And what is known to happen in the area where the loitering is going on?) He also told me he's seen young black guys in really expensive cars, and didn't think anything of it. All cops are different, I guess.— July 24, 2009 6:18 p.m.
President Obama is Stupidly
Incorrect? Well, provide your exact source. hehehehehehehehehehe— July 24, 2009 6:13 p.m.
President Obama is Stupidly
On CBS news I just heard Obama speak. It's great that he talked to Sgt. Crowley. And (sort of) retracted some of his statement. But it's yet another time that he mentioned that this may have happened because blacks are sensitive in America, to how they are treated by cops. YET...why in the world...did he not mention, that it's because of his friends like Gates? Not just because of cops bad treatment, but guys like Gates treating cops with disrespect? Obama says blacks are sensitive to these things. Well, guess what, Mr. President? Maybe cops are sensitive to pulling up to a crime scene and having people show attitude. Whether that's from the perp of the crime, or a regular citizen that doesn't like being questioned simply for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Ya know, Gates had just got back from a trip to China. It makes me wonder...what happens when they ask for his passport at the airport? Does he start screaming: What! A black man can't travel? Do you think I'm a drug runner? Well, the only thing in my suitcase is your mamas underwear!" Instead of Gates and others wondering why people ask for ID, passports, drivers license, etc...think about people doing their job for peanuts. A job that requires them asking for these things. It all reminds me of that African-American woman who worked somewhere in D.C. She's some high level politician and didn't like being asked to show her badge (which is supposed to be worn at all times in the Pentagon building, but she didn't have it on). She got angry because she said the woman at the desk "should've recognized her." And she claimed it was a racist situation, too. Now, SD...when stories like this happen, do you realize why people in the "gated community" make judgements on racism and WHO create the real problems in these disagreements?— July 24, 2009 6:13 p.m.
President Obama is Stupidly
Spliff: I don't believe the police all the time. In fact, when I first heard the Gates story, for about 2 minutes I was on his side. When police dropped the charges, I figured it was because they were doing the usual cop thing -- acting like jerks and barking orders, at a well-respected professor of Harvard. Then I heard the rest of the story. And if you got a ticket for profanity...you are insane. Who gets a ticket for that? Oh wait, a Raiders fan. But seriously...who walks around cursing up a storm, and getting ticketed for that? Living in a gated community doesn't mean someone has less credibility than someone living in a ghetto, on race issues. SD, you are white. Do you think your views are less important than Elders? (a black man who feels completely different than you on racial issues and blacks in America) You ask what I agreed with Pete on, as it's crazy for me to agree with him on anything. Well, I agreed with him on this: -- Gates getting to know his neighbors (so they don't call the cops on him when he tries breaking down his door with a friend) -- Being tired of the hypocritical BS. -- Gates being asked for his ID several times. -- Life goes on. (are those enough points for ya?) You say you didn't state your opinion on the Gates matter. Well, why is that? Is it because it would KILL YOU to side with cops over a prominent black man? Or, is it because you are naive enough to believe Gates idiotic story on what happened?— July 24, 2009 6:03 p.m.
President Obama is Stupidly
I'm off to Comic Con. I'll be more involved in the debate later tonight. But, I just heard the funniest thing on Headline News. A few African-Americans have been siding with the police. Okay, that's great there. But then one called in and said "Yeah, racial profiling was going on. But by the neighbor, not by the police!" The newscaster said "That's a very good point!" Uh, hate to break it to you...but, it's certainly better than assuming the cops were wrong, but not by much. Because, what that woman fails to realize is.... IT IS NOT NORMAL for a person to try to push down the door to their home. And, IT IS NOT NORMAL for a person to do this, with another person helping them. This, to anyone, would look suspicious. NOT the fact that Gates is black. But that two men (of any color) are trying to get into a door, that they OBVIOUSLY don't have a key to. Another black woman called in and said "Why should Obama be told to apologize? Why hasn't that cop apologized to Gates?" Well...again, nothing for the police to have to apologize for. Do the cops apologize to us when we go 88 mph on the freeway and get pulled over? Is this so hard for people to understand, including Obama? He's now making yet another statement on the matter, saying everyone needs to step back, and saying that past involvement of cops and the African-American community have caused problems and yadda yadda yadda. That's irrelevant to any of this. UNLESS, your point is to show why Gates walks thru life as "angry black man," and how maybe someone in such a prominent position at Harvard, should chill out and learn how to deal with situations.— July 24, 2009 12:35 p.m.
Best Sports Moments -- (and pitching a perfect game)
Dang it. I hate baseball, so I'm only vagualy familiar with that moment. I believe I remember Gibson hobbling around the bases. Regarding pitchers...I'm guessing the worst moment, for any PETA member, is the intimidating Randy Johnson throwing a fast ball. Not for a strike. Not for a ball. But for a fowl. It made contact with a bird that picked the wrong time to fly into the field...and it exploded into a furry of feathers.— July 24, 2009 11:58 a.m.
President Obama is Stupidly
SD...to think that Spliff was purposely making a pun, is giving that man WAY more credit then one should. Why would I pick up a book by an angry racist? Just as I wouldn't read a David Duke book, or something written by Rev. Wright. Because, this is a guy that is claiming the police harassed him. ANYTHING he writes, might be complete BS. He obviously makes up facts, to support his case. But just the fact that you've read his book....tells me why you are often biased when claims of racism are thrown out. You can't always believe the claims of a handful of people. I just rented Do the Right Thing the other day. I saw it in the theatres, and had mixed feelings about it. But thought it was time to revisit it after reading an interesting interview with Spike Lee (a racist) in the LA Times. I was surprised that Lee doesn't understand why whites think his character was wrong to throw a trash can thru a window, inciting a riot. Yet black people aren't bothered by that scene and have never asked him about it. That, right there, tells me all I need to know about Spike Lee. And I'm sure Gates is right there with him. I'm guessing, to both Lee and Gates, the riots after the Rodney King verdict were "justified". So, unless you can give us a good reason to read any drivel written by this man...we're not going to be skipping down to the library to pick up a copy.— July 24, 2009 11:55 a.m.
President Obama is Stupidly
In defense of African-Americans, I saw a black guy on Fox News last night (I don't usually watch Fox News, for obvious reasons). He does something on NPR. I LOVED his take on all this. He went on and on about how wrong Obama was. He went on and on about how he told his son, "you button your lip when the cop questions you. they might be having a bad day, or whatever. you just do what you're told." He also spoke about what would happen if the cop didn't fully investigate this "burglary call" and something bad happened to Mr. Gates. Then everyone would be screaming about the cops doing a bad job. THAT is exactly what I want to see in these situations. People not judging based on color, but on the story, and who is wrong and who is right. And from all we know about this story (the report, by the way, was done by a Mexican police officer...stating that Gates acted in this manner) -- GATES WAS WRONG, THE POLICE WERE RIGHT. And, what should even further pacify everyone regarding this: THE POLICE DID NOT CHARGE AN ANGRY MAN THAT WAS MAKING THE COPS JOB DIFFICULT. Had they charged him, I'm sure "charges" of racism would be filed. Instead, the police said "Okay...it was a misunderstanding. Things could've been handled different. Maybe next time Gates will realize, you answer police questions." And lastly....that same house (or building) was broken into fairly recently (so they said on CNN)— July 24, 2009 11:50 a.m.