Wednesday night I was on KNBC’s The Filter again, this time with Jack Weiss, the former City Council Member, would-have-liked-to- be-City Attorney. In this segment, we were questioned by Fred Roggin on the following topics:
1. The abortion-related Nelson amendment to the Senate’s version of the health care bill, an amendment that was recently (and thankfully) voted down.
2. The recent city council race.
3. The 18 percent pay cut that California lawmakers got hit with on Monday.
4. The Connecticut elementary school that may or may not have gone too far in its clamp down on Christmas decorations and the like.
All of this was accomplished in ten minutes, which is about 50 seconds per person per topic.
If you think that means blazing at full gallop through the subjects, you are entirely right. There’s even a timer. That’s part of the format—and the challenge of doing it. Opining on speed dial. (Heck: I figure it’s good exercise— like running wind sprints.)
UPDATE: I should have added when I posted this late last night (but I was too busy unwrapping cough drops) that I found Weiss to be refreshingly candid, informed and intelligent, both onscreen and off—which made me wish he was back in public office.
You can find the first half of Weiss’s and my segment above, the link to the second half here.
Be forewarned that I have a horrid cold (Kleenex, cough drops and chicken soup R Us around my house), thus my voice is nearly a full octave lower than usual (which might be an improvement), and I seem to look most of the time as if I’m about to sneeze.
Jack Weiss looks like he has a cold too. Although it may be simply the camera and the lighting.
One of the conceits of The Filter, this new show that the local NBC folks are developing for a possible full launch next year, is that the guests are all Skyped in, meaning that we each are photographed through the teensy, weensy fish-eye-ish lens on our laptops while sitting at home (bathed in the vanity-withering light of the computer screen)—a look that is intentionally both hi-tech and primitive.
On the other hand, it means there’s no driving time, and I can be wearing my oldest, scroungiest, most comfortable pair of Ugg boots. But, as long as I completely my sentences in a reasonable manner, you and the show’s producers will not know or care about my footwear.
Anyway, take a look. As I said, KNBC is still experimenting. So feel free to critique.
(Oh, and in case anyone’s curious, that weird background behind me is my great, great aunt’s, slightly raggedy log cabin quilt made of, no kidding, men’s neckties.)
I’ll be back later with updates on the Sanchez case and other stories once I’ve…… I don’t know….. napped.
Well done, Celeste!
They couldn’t find a conservative to match up with you, Celeste? You guys think that any opposition by the right represents red-herrings – from abortion concerns to Christmas decorations. In a debate on issues, I’d like to see someone on one side who can properly explain or take the positions for conservatives. In that, the program failed.
Also, did you hang the quilt behind you so that viewers couldn’t see that your dishes were piled up and you didn’t clean your house?
Good grief Woody, did you know swearing reduces stress. We don’t suggest dropping the F bomb in the middle of an intimate dinner party, but a strategically placed expletive in the privacy of your car, bathroom, or closet can help you blow off steam. Relax guy, it’s only a TV show.
“from abortion concerns to Christmas decorations.”
There’s nothing like having a “conservative” movement that presents itself such that we might take it seriously…
I’d like to suggest to Sure Fire that he treat himself to Flavonoids. Cocoa has plenty of them pal, they relax your body’s blood vessels so that arteries can dilate, reducing blood pressure. Looking for dark chocolate or cocoa powder, which have more of the stress-busting compound than milk chocolate, and keep it to one serving. Try not to blow a vein today amigo.
Woody, they have often had me on with a conservative. This time, they didn’t. Sometimes they want the local Hardball affect. Sometimes they seem to go for something different.
As for the quilt, nah, the dishes don’t pile up in my kitchen. I have lots of housekeeping flaws, but that isn’t one of them. I’m a bed maker and a dish doer. And, except for the ongoing battle with muddy paw prints, my house stays reasonably clean (ish).
BUT, I did make sure I aimed the camera away from the ever-evolving and often frightening array of messy stacks of paper in my office.
And thanks, Pokey.
And to WTF,
Take a YouTube-timeout partner. Just the anticipation of laughing significantly decreases levels of the stress hormones dopac, cortisol, and epinephrine. Wow!!
“Laugh and be happy and the world will laugh with you…”
http://www.televisiontunes.com/Sheriff_John_-_Laugh_and_Be_Happy.html
Ben, I don’t cuss…or smoke..or drink…or use drugs…or vote for Democrats.
reg, I guess you don’t consider abortion to be a serious concern. But, there could have been one benefit from abortions if your mother had had one instead of you and saved us from your idiotic comments.
Now, a new social justice cause for liberals concerned over effects of Christmas: Grinch likely depressed, suffers from lack of love, joy, expert says (w/ Video).
Celeste, Andy Rooney let us see his piled up, messy office. It adds character and credibility. Show me an accountant with a clean office and I’ll show you one that doesn’t have enough work.
Happy Birthday Sure Fire,
from all the homies.
http://www.televisiontunes.com/Sheriff_John_-_Birthday_Cake.html
While we’re discussing birthdays, Celeste turns 39 on Sunday. Early happy birthday, Celeste!
– – –
Another social cause: PC controller gets steamed up over Thomas ‘the Sexist’ Tank Engine
Good point, Woody. I’ll take it under advisement. (And, believe me, if it’s character you want, my office has lots and LOTS of…um…character.)
On the other hand then you wouldn’t get to see the quilt.
And thanks for the birthday wishes.
And the age reduction.
Hey Woody, you chew the fat and talk a lot of shit. People with the highest blood levels of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids are happier, less impulsive, and generally more agreeable. Dude, boost your mood by adding salmon, herring, and sardines to your holiday feasts, you fat pig.
At least Celeste don’t need a reduction in talking about weight matters Woody, you fat carnivore from Milwaukee.
Since someone seems interested in how I look, know that my weight is just right, is the same as when I left college, and I keep it there with meals of low sugars, low carbs, high protein, and some, but not enough, exercise. And, most people think that I’m ten years younger than I really am. I know you’re jealous. Now, get off my back before I start complaining about attacks on senior citizens.
No one is interested in how you look Woodster. Not even your wife by the fact she leaves you alone with your computer.
Get a grip
No more personal attacks, please. Thank you.
I just naturally assume that all the men commenting here are handsome devils, the women fabulous. How could it be otherwise?
So chill.
Good interviews. There are reports that this may become an on-air series for Ch. 4 next year, is that true? That would solve one of the issues you mention, the visuals, where the fact especially nose of any commenter looks puffy around the nose because of the position relative to the camera (whenever you’re so close to a wide-angle it’s horribly unflattering). Though I like the “real” aspects of doing it this way – maybe both ways?
darn, I meant FACE of any subject of course, NOT their facT!
And only Woody could worry about whether you’re hiding dirty dishes. (So you’re a dish-washing, bed-making, fastidious type, huh? Figures, since you seem so efficient in managing your time as you drive from one university and county to the next and manage to keep up this blog. You probably keep your accounts in good order, too, and clean out your rain gutters before a storm – things which should please even Woody. Even if there were no left-right “screaming heads” in this one.)
WBC, yes to the first question, but they’ll keep the Skype factor. That’s part of the design of the show.
As for keeping my accounts in order, I wish. My tax guy is very, very tolerant of me and my unorganized and ways.
As for the gutters, I mostly do whatever will keep the house or the storeroom from flooding during a rainstorm, and leave it at that. My yard is all roses and sage/rosemary/lavender type plants, which—except at feeding and pruning time for the roses, pretty much take care of themselves. That works fine for me AND the plants. I do speak to them on a regular basis, though.
But I need a relatively neat house (ridiculous piles of books and papers nothwithstanding) in order that my decidedly untidy mind can function.
“I do speak to them on a regular basis”
Celeste, take your stereo speakers out to the back yard and let the plants listen to Glenn Beck for a slow death by asphyxiation. Or let them listen to Rush for a plants version of cardiopulmonary arrest.
What a horrifyingly sadistic notion.
I’m way too fond of my plants, especially the roses. (I admire a plant that is not just beautiful, but also quite prepared to defend itself.)
“No more personal attacks, please. Thank you.”
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What is Sr. Donkey supposed to do, if he is not stalking Woody, Sure Fire, Glen Beck or Lou Dobbs on the Internet? The old fool needs someone to harass after a few too many Ramos Gin Fizz drinks.
WTF – you think that’s Donkey Joto? It might be, I don’t know but by all the animosity in the writing my guess would be that Robbie Tommy got a new handle. What do you say Celeste ? You have access to the IP’s.
I do have access to the IPs and more.
And no, this is not Don Quixote. Nor is it Rob Thomas. It’s another regular commenter who posts under various names.
Woody Says:
December 10th, 2009 at 9:52 am
Since someone seems interested in how I look, know that my weight is just right, is the same as when I left college, and I keep it there with meals of low sugars, low carbs, high protein, and some, but not enough, exercise. And, most people think that I’m ten years younger than I really am. I know you’re jealous.
…………….
OMG, Woody is Br?no!
Oh, you’re so lucky the u with the two dots I copied and pasted didn’t show up, Woody, because that was a good one.
Celeste, thank you for setting my little accuser there straight. It’s as if me and Don Quixote are the only people who get a kick out of the Sure one. His temper and pontificating tone just invites ridicule. Most cops try to play it cool over the internet. He has a different approach.
“Most cops try to play it cool over the internet. He has a different approach.”
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Now – That’s a good one.
Coming from a person who compares cops to nazis.
I didn’t compare cops to Nazis, just the LAPD. The LAPD, and pretty much all law enforcement in southern California, do not represent law enforcement across the country, thankfully.
I didn’t compare cops to Nazis, just the LAPD.
Did I read that right? Are the LAPD not cops?