Death Race 37, Sarah 19; 1 of 24 categories completed

GasLand, a doc about the dangers posed to the national water supply by hydro-fracturing ("fracking"), gets off to a precious, over-edited start, and Josh Fox's grating monotone VO seems either amateurish or too studied. Eventually, it becomes clear that that monotone is almost a defense mechanism; otherwise, Fox (and likely the viewer) would get fed up with corporate malfeasance and outright evil, and start shrieking incoherently. That same flat delivery is what puts over the wittier first-person observations, as when Fox shows footage of an unattended, seeping sludge pit, marked incongruously with the colored flags usually found at a car dealership, and says he doesn't know what the flags do — perhaps it's the pit's grand opening.

Fox gets insightful, likeable people to interview, and is super-skilled at putting them in three dimensions in just a few minutes — like the first guy who lights his water on fire for the audience (and isn't that adjective depressing). He's sporting a luxuriant mustache and a cheery attitude: yeah, it sucks that his tap water is flammable, but that being the case, it's kind of cool that he can light it up and freak people out. It's clear that the natural-gas industry doesn't give a shit what it's doing to the environment or the locals, and that they continue not to give a shit because they figure said locals don't have enough power to interfere with their business. But these particular locals don't seem like they'll back down. It's encouraging, which is nice, given that you've just seen more footage than you wanted to of livestock with their fur falling out.

The movie gets you on its side fairly quickly; you want to meet more of what Fox calls his "new friends," and see how they're doing. You especially want to send a little card to Rep. DeGette for her polite but ruthless interrogation of one of the natural-gas company reps in a Congressional hearing, which makes him look like a liar and a pussy, and is intercut with shots of Fox next to his camera, chewing gum and occasionally spiking a brow all "…right?"

HBO subscribers can watch it any old time; it's on HBO's On Demand channel. Fox's physical resemblance to Elijah Wood in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind starts out unsettling, but then is kind of fun, and with subject matter this bleak, you have to take your amusements where you can. "Enjoy."

Many odious aspects of the holidays entered…one left. And that one, with 35% of the vote in our final poll, is: "The alleged 'War on Christmas' annually fabricated by conservatives"!

Thanks so much for participating in the NC Double Scrooge; I hope we made your holidays a little more enjoyable (or at least more supportive). We'll see you again for the NC Make It A Double, our cocktail bracket, later in the winter!

First, we admire the crafty initiative of reader Deanna in dressing her own Miss Tomatohead up as a member of the nightshade family using only materials at hand. Excellent use of green felt, young ladies.

Then, we U.S. citizens vote. Remember this? Good times. The prospect of freedom from Bloomberg's campaign ads is not quite as exciting (and I know you Jersey voters feel me), but I'll take it. It's your right: exercise it.

While you pull levers and admire infants, I will finish up the mini-prizing; make sure the main prizing page is up to date; and confer with Brrr It's Cold In Here There Must Be Some Intern In The Atmosphere on the workflow. And then I will begin notifying the winners. So that the prizing phase does not extend into January as it did last year, I'll have to tweak the process just a bit, but here's what you need to know:

• if you have not received a receipt from me, you are not entered in the drawing;
• if you have received a bunch of receipts from me, you are entered in the drawing, but each individual is entered once, not multiple times (multiple receipts does not disqualify you, however);
• if you won a mini-prize, you are still eligible for prizes from the main list;
• when the main prizing phase begins, please make sure my domain is on your whitelist.

Winners will receive an email containing detailed instructions on how to claim prizes. I will make an announcement here when the main prizing phase begins with a little more information on the logistics. Until then, if you have any questions, please post them in the comments.

I nearly can't believe it's finally come: the last day of the Bush presidency. I watched his farewell remarks the other night; when he got to the part about how civilians slowly went back to their lives after September 11, but he never did, I could feel the bile rising. I didn't believe him, because he delivered the line with that trademark vile egg-farty smirk, and even if I had believed him…but then I remembered that it doesn't matter anymore. He's done. It's over at last. Whatever that guy tells himself about his own righteousness is no longer something I have to care about, and thank God.

Obama is going to screw up, and lie about it, and do all the other frustrating and human things all the guys before him did, but praise God he's going to do it while using correct English, and here's the other thing: as thrilled as I am to see this moment in American history, as hopeful as I am that the Obaministration can make meaningful change, as much as I look forward to seeing his portrait up on the wall at the P.O. for the first time, I think Obama's real gift to the nation is having restored our faith in ourselves to get things done. "Yes We Can" is a clever rhetorical tool, but it became something bigger; it became true. It's what made the post-election atmosphere in Brooklyn so friendly and fun, at least partly — because everyone felt bonded by it, had a sense of ownership in it.

I hope we can remember that feeling as we go forward, because Obama isn't going to get inaugurated and then create a bunch of jobs the next day, or pull the trapdoor on Iraq. But the great thing he brought us is the reminder that he doesn't have to do everything. We the people have reserves of extraordinary that we can and should spend freely.

If you have a dream, in other words…let's hear it. Let's do it. Why not?

All y'all in Washington, stay warm and share cabs. Everyone else: we made it. Party on this thread tomorrow.

"Shhh, Daddy's stories are on."

To all my friends and readers who called in gay today, Lee and I salute you. Don't forget to take a nice hot bubble bath with your favorite boy or girl after a long day of volunteering.

Just a reminder: the state of California allows prisoners to marry. Prisoners. Lyle Menendez has a wife. So does Erik. The Menendezes killed their parents for money; the Menendezes have wives. My cousin has not killed her parents (both ministers, by the way, and both down with the program), and is a Ph.D, a published author, and a total sweetheart whose current relationship has lasted longer than all of mine combined, but if my cousin moves to California, who can she marry? A dude. A dude in prison, even. But…not a lady. What the fuck, Golden State.

That's the bad, dumb news. The good news: if you would care to object to that ridonkulous state of affairs, you can do it, in person, even if you don't live in Cali. On Saturday, Join The Impact is coordinating a protest to take place at the same time in all 50 states (y'all Hawaiians will have to get up kinda early…sorry dudes). Just click the link above to find out where to gather, to become a local organizer, or to order a t-shirt.

That's our friends they're talking about. Don't let it stand.

The shameful: I've gotten sucked into Celebrity Rehab after skipping it last season, and God help me but I have a little love affair going with Steven Adler. He's so sweet, even with the mushmouthy cursing! He still has his hesher hair! He just wants to get back together with his friend Slash, and for Gary Busey to shut up (behind you a hundred percent on that, friend). I have no idea what's going on with Jeff Conaway's weird group-therapy disguise or delusions of kidnapping, and Busey is damn near unwatchably sad, but: Adler. Love that guy. Call him, Slash!

In lieu of the regular Vine, a few words of advice: remember when this happened, and how awesome it felt. Remember that you, the Nation, have improved the lives of tens of thousands of people. Community action works; just ask that guy up top there.

Tough day for American progressives, but don't give up. Thank reader Greg for the photo hilarity, donate to the Fall Classic, and try not to freak out. Or freak out in the comments. We're here for you.

November 3, 2010

We ran upstairs right before eleven so we wouldn't miss the West Coast returns, but instead of telling us who won what state, CNN just blurted it out: Obama is our next president. It took a second, but then, bedlam.

Right now, two hours later, I can still hear intermittent honking and cheering outside. Total strangers gave me thumbs-ups and congrats as I walked home. I can't describe the feeling; I can't believe it's true. I barely remember what it's like to feel like the country's leadership cares about me or anything I believe in, or to think the guy I voted for isn't just the lesser of two evils.

And President-Elect Obama immediately repaid my faith by 1) beginning his speech precisely on time, 2) thanking his supporters and giving the voters the credit without sounding obsequious or fake, and 3) immediately saying that this is just the first of many steps we all need to take together…"this is not over," in effect. That speech, like so many of his speeches, is rhetorically a lot harder to do than it might seem, never mind convincingly, and he did it.

Also awesome: the crowds totally bugging out at the White House, Frank Lautenberg running for Senate in Jersey and winning despite being old enough to remember when the Senate had an outhouse, and Joe Biden's mom. And Joe Biden. And Prop 8 going down (fingers crossed!). And, when it really counted, America. Good job, guys.

]]> http://tomatonation.com/culture-and-criticism/yes-we-kechonk/feed/ 187 http://tomatonation.com/culture-and-criticism/please-please-please-let-me-let-me-let-meeeee-get-what-i-waaaaaant-this-tiiiiime/ http://tomatonation.com/culture-and-criticism/please-please-please-let-me-let-me-let-meeeee-get-what-i-waaaaaant-this-tiiiiime/#comments Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:38:15 +0000 Sarah D. Bunting http://tomatonation.com/?p=2792 Election Day is nigh at last; I can't WAIT to vote. And, honestly, to have this campaign madness over with at last…not to mention the last eight years' worth.

In case it didn't go without saying, I hereby and without reservation endorse Barack Obama for President of the United States of America. I urge all American citizens in the readership, regardless of your party affiliation (or lack of same; I'm an independent myself), to vote tomorrow, no matter how cold or rainy it is outside where you are or how long the line is or whatever other minor hassle might prevent you from exercising your right to affect the political future of your country. We've all just proven that everyone doing a little adds up to doing a lot; your vote counts. Cast it.

To my international readers: fingers crossed for us, please; we'll try not to biff it again.

Not sure where to vote, or what you need to bring? PopWatch posted a handy links guide.