Category: Brooklyn

So, I’ve actually been watching “Law and Order” in its 18th (!) season since the premiere on 1/3/08 (ok, actually, I missed an episode), since I wanted to see how Sam Waterston’s Jack McCoy would do as the (acting? interim?) DA, while Fred Thompson’s DA Arthur Branch was… actually, I’m still not clear on Branch’s fate, since it wasn’t made apparent on-screen (although, we all know that Thompson was trying to be a presidential candidate; wonder what will happen to Thompson now that the presidential candidate gig’s over and – eventually – once the writers’ strike ends? Will he back on L&O?).

Anyway, note that I haven’t sat for a whole L&O episode in years and I don’t practice criminal law. So, watching full episodes turned out to have been strangely entertaining. The ripped-from-the-headlines plots are starting to feel unintentionally funny (I had laugh out loud moments at rather inopportune moments, particularly when I recognized from what headline the plot was ripped from). McCoy as the DA is kind of interesting – he’s appointed to the position, he’s dealing with a balancing act, and he’s got more power than he really wants – plus, the folks of the DA’s office are starting to realize his age (kind of sad when it’s a blackout and the female ADA notes that they’d have to drag out McCoy’s ancient typewriter to work on something). Jesse L. Martin as Detective Ed Green is still a looker; and S. Epatha Merkerson as the Lieutenant – well, thumbs up; she’s got the acting chops, even if I find the writing silly.

The new castmembers:

Jeremy Sisto’s Detective Cyrus Lupo manages to have more character backstory than just about every other L&O character in only his first ten minutes. He’s not so bad, once you get over the whole “I was away from the precinct, and now I’m back!” circumstance for his character.

McCoy’s replacement as Executive ADA, Michael Cutter, is played by Linus Roache – yet another British actor playing American, which I didn’t realize until I checked imdb.com. Note that Roache played Thomas Wayne in “Batman Begins” – the doomed dad to Bruce Wayne and Gotham City crime victim. Roache plays Cutter as a Blackberry addict who has a weird New York/New England accent (well, Roache did play Robert F. Kennedy at one point); I think he’s easy on the eyes (well, I am a sucker for the Brits who play Americans well).

I agree with TV Guide’s Matt Roush – L&O is feeling refreshed:

Jeremy Sisto brings a solid, no-nonsense gravity to new detective Cyrus Lupo, brought onto the beat with an assisted-suicide case that hits close to home. (This episode ends with a courtroom twist that may be a first in the show’s nearly 400-episode history.) More notable this season, because of Sam Waterston’s longevity, is Jack McCoy’s promotion to top DA, making way for Linus Roache as enjoyably scrappy and impulsive new prosecutor Michael Cutter, who ruffles Jack’s composure: “What do you do for fun, Mike, juggle chain saws with my neck on the line?”

This TV Guide article acknowledges the re-energized L&O, but seemed to forget what Roush notes: Roache as Cutter. Yeah, Mike’s the ace in the hole – he managed to almost botch the blackout kidnapping/murders case by letting Green and Lupo do a search without a warrant (Mike Cutter making Jack McCoy feel sick – see quote above), can’t seem to lose his Blackberry, but pulls off a compelling closing argument in this week’s episode. Thumbs up!

So, even the NY Times is covering how the Big Law Firms have to reform billable hours. Does this, as Lisa Belkin writes, make the firms cuddlier for addressing work/life balance? But, really, they wouldn’t have done this unless their clients started to become resistant about paying for over-paid law firm associates (well, overpaid compared to us public service/public interest lawyers who aren’t making anything in comparison for work in the public interest).

The NY Times does a fascinating profile of Judge Margarita Lopez Torres, after the US Supreme Court ruled against her case New York State Board of Elections v. López Torres.

The legal problems of Filipino nurses, who face a dilemma in being desired as employees but then don’t get fair treatment as employees (the irony is palpable). Yes, you owe a duty to your patients/clientele, but what is an employee to do when avenues to negotiate for better labor conditions aren’t working?

And, speaking of tv and not law, this article further explains the changes on what was once “Masterpiece Theatre,” which was made apparent on the “Masterpeice” website. No more “Mystery!” – as it got pulled into the “Masterpiece” umbrella. No more majestic theme song. What’s really left then? “Quality”? Let’s hope so, for the combined sake of “Masterpiece” and PBS.

This NY Times article by Melissa Clark on fondue made me want to eat warm gooey cheese.

Oh, and since I’m on L&O and I seem to have great timing: the reviews are out for “Come Back, Little Sheba” – and they’re raving for S. Epatha Merkerson in her role as Lola, who lost the cat Little Sheba and, more importantly, is a Desperate Houswife in a truer sense than those one Wisteria Lane. I’ve admired how the cast of L&) have been able to go back and forth with screen (big and small) and stage – it shows a love of the art and their strengths as actors. Sounds like this version of “Little Sheba” has great stuff with Merkerson and Kevin Anderson, who plays her alcoholic chiropractor husband (to whom TV hasn’t been as kind, at least not ABC when they treated the show, “Nothing Sacred” so badly – Anderson was the priest who had – umm – issues… people back in the 90’s weren’t keen on shows that had “quality” and took on issues of faith and public interest, oh well…)

The sad passing of former American ice skater, Christopher Bowman – the story of decline despite having been a showman on skates.

Last but not least – the passing of actor Heath Ledger – I haven’t seen a lot of Ledger’s work – haven’t gotten to “Brokeback Mountain,” “A Knight’s Tale” still on my movies to watch list (that one kind of matches my not-great taste in movies), and I’m eager for the next “Batman” movie, where Ledger played the Joker (sad that that gets to be the last role – it may not be the bet way to go? But, if it works well as “art,” perhaps that’s not so bad?). Ledger’s appreciation for NYC – Brooklyn, in particular – is something to salute.I hate the media circus that’s covering his death; I do admire the appraisals from the movie critics, which were respectful and evoked a person and artist who’s gone too soon for a full career of potential.

Martin Luther King was assassinated at the young age of thirty-nine, not much older than I am today. In his famous “I have a dream” speech in 1963, he talks about how the check of freedom issued to all citizens, including African Americans, has come back because of “insufficient funds”.  That is one step ahead of where we Chinese would have been in 1963, because it was neigh impossible to become a citizen then. If I were a contemporary of MLK, I would be waiting two more years in Hong Kong or some other place in the British West Indies for the Immigration Act of 1965, when the quota of 105 Chinese a year was finally lifted. Chances are 1,000 to 1 for being a barrister/solicitor, 10 to 1 a scientist or a teacher, and even money on shopkeeper or restaurant cook. How far the journey has been, such a dream, and how fortunate we are to have it!

In honor of the day, consider checking out the slideshow on Slate: “In Memoriam: Martin Luther King, Jr.”

Fascinating interview in NY Times Magazine with Maya Soetoro-Ng, Barack Obama’s sister, who identifies herself as “I’m half white, half Asian. I think of myself as hybrid. People usually think I’m Latina when they meet …”

On a far less thoughtful note: the teaser trailer of the new Star Trek movie – it looks cool; it almost took my breath away. Heavy emphasis on “almost.” I so don’t know whether to be terrified that it’d be crap or be excited because it might actually be good (J.J. Abrams has bummed me out with how “Alias” ended after all, plus, re-booting Star Trek – well, honestly, it’s not like re-booting the “Bond, James Bond,” or “Batman” franchises). Oh, well. We can always have the best of thoughts for the future, can’t we?

Oh my – the Giants pulled it off; they’re going to the Super Bowl!!!

A NY Times look at the Cambodian immigrants of NYC.

Apparently, you can’t use the cold as your excuse to avoid outdoor exercise. Oh well. Guess old-fashioned laziness will do just fine.

This NY Times article about these guys selling books to the Strand — well, it reminds me: Got to get around to selling some of these unwanted (to me, anyway) books in the house…

In the Theater section of the NY Times: this sounds like a great review on the works of some major British actors doing Shakespeare: Zoe Wanamaker, Simon Russell Beale, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Ewan McGregor; so cool!

Hmm, so now the NY Times has gotten its say on the Austen stuff on PBS. Considering that I’ve never read “Northanger Abbey” or “Mansfield Park,” the movie adaptations of these two might prove interesting. For Americans, take note: “Mansfield Park” stars Billie Piper, the ex-Rose of the current incarnation of “Doctor Who.”

The passing of actor Allan Melvin, character actor known as “Sam the Butcher,” the love interest of Alice on “The Brady Bunch,” plus his roles on “All in the Family” and so forth.

The passing of actress Suzanne Pleshette; nice tribute by Time critic Richard Corliss.

Last week I drove down to Red Bank, NJ for the premiere of the movie Camp Woz, which was about the real life youth computer workshops organized by Apple Computer founder Steve Wozniak and Real World Miami participant and social worker Joe Patane. I knew Joe in high school. This is clearly where one person can make a difference in the lives of others. I was impressed.

I would have not known about this event had I not joined Facebook and hooked up with old friends. I’ve refused to hook up with MySpace and some of the other social networks like Twitter, but Facebook is different in two main ways: they allow the users to write or plug in their own applications, and that the installed base is dramatically larger than most of the other networks. While there are some claims that it is a waste of time, I find that it actually saves time by letting me see what all of my friends are doing in a glance.

Scrabulous is Facebook’s killer app. I’m sure Hasbro or Mattel can figure out a deal rather than annoying the hundreds of thousands of people that have been drawn back to Scrabble.

Eateries this week: microwave burrito from the Red Bank 7-11 (sprung for the extra 20 cents for the “hand made” spicy beef filling, exactly the same), Burger King at the curiously named Cheesequake Service Area (weird chicken sandwich). Beef stew at the Borough Hall Crossroads stand (not really that good), buffalo wings at Fraunces Tavern (yes, George Washington’s favorite watering hole is still an excellent fully functioning pub), the new Marriott Eastside for a banquet (crab cakes were soggy, filet mignon and sea bass reasonably ok, huge slices of cheesecake for dessert), Rachel’s Taqueria for Tex-Mex (awesome Chimichanga -recommended).

There are a lot of people out there that can tell a good story. Between the Internet and small publishers, these gems no longer fester in someone’s file cabinet, but can make change (and yes, that includes our teary eyed presidential candidates).

I’ve been following Ron Lopez’s Kensington Stories. His vignettes about the neighborhood where I grew up in Brooklyn ring true – the Buzzarama slot car birthday parties, the old movie theater, Scotto’s, bagels, and more. I went to the local parochial school IHM, so I didn’t have the public school experiences he had, but of course each person has their own takes on things. He comes up with these fantastic hooks – strawberry shortcake and goal setting, sunsets on rooftops and unrequited love, and a happy reason to go to the funeral home on New Year’s Eve (needed some extra seats for the party). Recommended.

Stumbling through some other websites, I find a college friend (actually the very first person I met at orientation in college) running a literary magazine in Park Slope called One Story. Simple concept – the subscription-only zine publishes only one thoroughly vetted story every three weeks. They’re already into issue 100, and have been recently written up in the NYT, Time Out, and the Brooklyn Papers. I’ve signed up!

I think I might have OD’d the political watching this weekend. The ABC/Facebook/WMUR debate on Saturday ended up being really interesting. Heck, these debates are reality tv – only with way much more stakes involved (like, you know, the future of the country). Alliances – implied or opportune – as McCain, Huckabee, Giuliani ganged up on Romney during the Republican debate; Edwards jumping on to (kind of) Obama’s side in slamming Clinton; Clinton deriving anger/passion in fending off Edwards; Romney looking like deer in headlights. Political reporter’s pointing out to Hillary Clinton that people didn’t find her likable, with Hilary pulling off a witty little comeback and Obama’s less-than-nice quip of “You’re likeable enough, Hillary.” Romney’s remark that the pharmaceuticals aren’t that bad – kind of eye-rolling, that (you do realize people don’t like the big corporations because they’ve the deep pockets, don’t you, Mitt?). Bill Richardson sat in the middle of the Democrat table looking like he was just glad to be there.

Big plus that only happens with live tv: Charlie Gibson as moderator made quite the move in bringing the Dems and the GOP’ers on the stage at the same time after the GOP debate ended but before the Dem debate started. Talk about a gem of a photo op! What one would do to know what the candidates were all saying to each other (imagine: Hillary to Rudy Giuliani: “You missed Iowa, Rudy; guess you had a nice New Year’s?” Or Obama to McCain: “John, did you get the scores for the football games?”).

Apparently, the ratings for the debate is looking pretty good. But, it was Saturday night, when there wasn’t all that much on tv anyway (except maybe football), and things are getting hot with the elections.

The FOX Republican debate on Sunday was slightly less interesting (no weird libertarian stuff from Ron Paul). The pundits seem to think that Romney came off better, but I didn’t quite feel that way. Then again, I’m not leaning Republican, so who am I to say? At least this was actually easier to stomach than what moderator Chris Wallace’s dad was doing that same hour: Mike Wallace’s interview of pitcher Roger Clemens was no easy watch at all.

An interesting NY Times’ article: “In Response to MTA’s ‘Say Something’ Ads, a Glimpse of Modern Fears,” in explaining those ads where MTA claimed that 1944 people “saw something and said something.” As the article noted, whether what’s reported really led to an anti-terrorism lead… well, that’s something else, isn’t it? William Neuman writes:

What, exactly, did those 1,944 New Yorkers see, and what did they say? Presumably, no active terror plots were interrupted, or that would have been announced by the authorities.

Now, an overview of police data relating to calls to the hot line over the past two years reveals the answer and provides a unique snapshot of post-9/11 New York, part paranoia and part well-founded caution. Indeed, no terrorists were arrested, but a wide spectrum of other activity was reported.

The vast majority of calls had nothing to do with the transit system.

Some callers tried to turn the authority’s slogan on its head. These people saw nothing but said something anyway — calling in phony bomb threats or terror tips. At least five people were arrested in the past two years and charged with making false reports.

Eleven calls were about people seen counting in the subway, which was interpreted as ominous by some.

One thing the overview did not clear up: just where did the number 1,944 come from? Police and transit officials could not say exactly. [….]

Gold Rain – a very pretty slide show on the NY Times website, by photographer Robert Caplin: “A look at how the sun paints New York’s nooks and crannies over the course of the year.”