Comments for Media and Mayhem

Comment on An Incredible Injustice: The Case of Brandon Hein by Brian De Palma

Brian De Palma — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 08:14:09 +0000

P.S.

I believe the sociopathic DA in this case has passed away. How he could sleep at night with what he did to them amazes me.

Comment on An Incredible Injustice: The Case of Brandon Hein by Brian De Palma

Brian De Palma — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 08:10:04 +0000

This case haunts me, I have written Gov. Brown on his website, but of course, nobody is doing anything. It seems like a pardon is the only chance. This case makes me ill.

Comment on An Incredible Injustice: The Case of Brandon Hein by Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 22:23:03 +0000

I think the prosecuters should be burned at the stake!

Comment on The Death Penalty Is Indefensible in an Imperfect System Capable of Error by Steve Gorelick

Steve Gorelick — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 17:14:43 +0000

Kimberly: Many years ago I had mixed feelings.

But now it seems so simple.

Our system makes mistakes. Our system should have ability to rectify mistakes.You can’t rectify death penalty mistake.

Comment on The Death Penalty Is Indefensible in an Imperfect System Capable of Error by Kimberly

Kimberly — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 02:31:29 +0000

^^above comment from Kimberly Woodhall (Social Problems in the Media).

Comment on The Death Penalty Is Indefensible in an Imperfect System Capable of Error by Kimberly Woodhall

Kimberly Woodhall — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:23:42 +0000

I have mixed feelings about the death penalty. Sometimes, I feel that it is just and some criminals deserve it. But, at the same time a lot of those criminals are innocent. Also, if a loved one of mine was killed and the criminal was under trail- I would rather have him or her be in jail for the rest of his or lives rather than be put to death by lethal injection. I think it is far more a punishment to have a criminal live a jail cell, alone, pay his time, and think about what he or she has done.

Another point that I would like to bring up is that I think the death penalty is a tad hypocritical. It is basically saying to the criminal you’ve committed murder and murder is illegal, that is why you are being put to death and being killed. It does not make much sense to me when it is put into that light…

-Kimberly Woodhall (social problems in the media-mondays and thursdays).

Comment on The Death Penalty Is Indefensible in an Imperfect System Capable of Error by Steve Gorelick

Steve Gorelick — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 19:19:52 +0000

You really cut to one of the core questions, one not easy at all to answer.

What constitutes adequate justice, what will bring something approaching closure, to the family and friends of a murder victim?

You really got me thinking.

Thanks for your comment,

Comment on The Death Penalty Is Indefensible in an Imperfect System Capable of Error by Alfred Ying

Alfred Ying — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 04:50:25 +0000

Albert Camus once said something along the lines of “Capital Punishment is the most premeditated of murders”. To me this is a very thought provoking and I agree with the quote in terms of having the ability to kill an innocent life legally.
But I am wondering what if the individual that the court system condemns is actually guilty of the murder. Does the old saying “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” bring closure to the victim’s family? I don’t think when the individual is given “X” amount of years in prison would bring justice to the victim’s family. All in all justice must be served to those who are harmed and also wrongfully accused.

Alfred Ying
MED399

Comment on Someday I Might Tell You This Story by Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 03:53:30 +0000

Hi Steve, thank you for honoring John with this tribute. He remembered you with fondness. I can see that he knew you would be successful and make a difference for many others.

Sandra Villegas-Duvanich, John’s wife

Comment on The Death Penalty Is Indefensible in an Imperfect System Capable of Error by Matt Walczak

Matt Walczak — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 17:54:09 +0000

I have been following this sotry and really trying to wrap my head around after the execution took place last night and this post really has helped me do that. Couldn’t agree more.

Comment on The Death Penalty Is Indefensible in an Imperfect System Capable of Error by Brittny

Brittny — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 04:53:06 +0000

Troy Davis was one of many men executed in our imperfect system. If he was truly innocent, we may never know. He took his last breath at 11:04 pm tonight. I watched as execution eyewitnesses on CNN described his final moments. To them, it seemed, it was just another execution. They displayed a cold and unmoved quality. To his family and friends, it was a great loss and a case of pure injustice. For Troy Davis, this was the very end. There is no turning back or undoing of what happened tonight. Is our system to blame? could more have been done to save his life?...Then again, who wants to save a murderers life? I call him a murderer not because it is what i believe, but because it is what we were forced to accept. That label is the one thing that could have been reversed if anyone had cared enough, and now it is too late. - Brittny Wilson Social Problems in Media and Culture student 399

Comment on The 9/11 Tapes: The Story in the Air by Steve Gorelick

Steve Gorelick — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 17:33:04 +0000

Absolutely fascinating. I had never heard this story before. I can only imagine the thoughts that went through his head as he experienced this all at such a distance. Thanks for calling it to my attention.

Comment on The 9/11 Tapes: The Story in the Air by Kimberly

Kimberly — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 15:16:11 +0000

This was a very interesting article. This morning on yahoo I came across an article that is similar to this one. This is the link:http://news.yahoo.com/astronaut-in-space-during-attacks-shares-unique-footage-of-9-11.html.

This article shows a video of an astronaut,Frank Culbertson’s view of the 9/11 attacks from space. “From Aug. 12 to Dec. 15, 2001, astronaut Frank Culbertson was aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Two hundred fifty miles above the Earth’s surface, Culbertson was the only American not on the planet at the time of the terrorist attacks. He — along with two Russian cosmonauts — witnessed the horrific events of Sept. 11, as well as the invasion of Afghanistan a month later, from space.”

Comment on In Memory of George “Mr. Spoons” Gully 1929 – 2010 by Devin

Devin — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 01:01:59 +0000

I miss ya pops. RIP Mr.Spoons<3 I miss you everyday.and every night…..Mr.Spoons was an AMAZING spoon player and hes uhm…dead now… D: But he'll Rest In Peace as i visit his grave<3333 HES SO AMAZING….*cries* excuse me…im sorry….i get emotional about this topic…my favorite song was Old Bones…what an amazing man….RIP popers. D: <3
ps…dont haunt me(:

Comment on Weiner’s Complaint: Why Political Impotence More Than Bad Behavior is Why He Has to Go by Angely Mercado

Angely Mercado — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 23:42:20 +0000

Not long after Weiner’s photo was sent and he claimed to have his account hacked, a celebrity’s account was also “hacked” after it was found out that offensive messages or posts were sent out. Due to the many people who have had thier account “hacked” and then found out to have lied I doubt that many more people in power will get away with shocking pictures and messages

Comment on Andrew Malcolm of The LA Times May Need to Do Some Deep Breathing Exercises by P Carson

P Carson — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 18:35:40 +0000

Is this guy (Malcolm)a total Idiot? Or a just plain Moron

Comment on In Memory of George “Mr. Spoons” Gully 1929 – 2010 by Steve Gorelick

Steve Gorelick — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 05:29:43 +0000

Georgene: I am so touched by the kindness of your message. Also curious if your Mom is hanging in there, doing OK? it’s hard for her, I’m sure.

Comment on In Memory of George “Mr. Spoons” Gully 1929 – 2010 by Georgene Gully

Georgene Gully — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 01:41:34 +0000

Thank you Prof. Gorelick. I am one of Mr. Spoons “little spoons, he had five children – I am George Gully’s first born. Thank you for sharing such a poignant tribute to my father, he would truly appreciate knowing he was being remembered in such a “cool” way.

The memories most precious to me are the years of my childhood in the 50’s and 60’s in New York, those were the “cool” years when we lived in one of the coolest places to live; Greenwich Village nestled between Chelsea and Little Italy. Mr. Spoons was a long shore man by day, he also worked a second job at channel ABC where he met and became friends with one of the coolest radio disc jockeys of those days; WABC’s Bruce Morrow, aka “Cousin Brucie.”

We may not have had much money, but love and having fun was plentiful – our lives were never dull or boring and that was a gift no monetary value could ever be placed upon. My father’s life was a mix of Marlon Brando as Terri Malloy in “On The Waterfront” and song and dance man James Cagney playing George M. Cohan in “Yankee Doodle Dandy.” It was a wonderful life. George Gully was a true “New Yorker” and he was just about as “cool” as they come.

Comment on What’s Up With Mose Wright? by Susan Klopfer

Susan Klopfer — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 13:12:38 +0000

Mose Wright stood up in a Mississippi courtroom, in front of a white judge and jury, and picked out the two men who killed Emmett Till. This was an act of historical significance. What bravery for a black man in those days. He was risking his life and the life of his family when he made this accusation. I think that people want to hear more about this history, these Mississippi stories. They are still not taught in most classrooms about what really happened in the early years of the modern civil rights movement, so when they hear about Mose Wright and his powerful accusation, they realize they want to hear more.

Comment on Farley Granger 1925 – 2011 by Kanushree

Kanushree — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 20:02:09 +0000

Strangers on a Train was my first Hitchcock movie too! I actually just saw it over the winter break when I took Film 101. Hitchcock is so awesome, detail-oreiented and creative with his cameo appearances.

Comment on Farley Granger 1925 – 2011 by Steve Gorelick

Steve Gorelick — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 12:51:49 +0000

Thanks Jessica, always nice to hear from one of my former students. Do you have a favorite Hitchcock?

Comment on Farley Granger 1925 – 2011 by Jessica

Jessica — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 17:35:21 +0000

“Strangers on a Train” was my first Hitchcock film! I saw it when I was 13, when my Hitchcock-obsessed English teacher showed it to us in class. Great film.

Comment on Some People Really Get Straight To The Truth: Tom Stoppard on “Accuracy” by Steve Gorelick

Steve Gorelick — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 19:59:50 +0000

Mick: thanks so much.

The Herzog quote is absolutely brilliant:

“By dint of declaration the so-called Cinema Verité is devoid of verité. It reaches a merely superficial truth, the truth of accountants. Cinema Verité confounds fact and truth, and thus plows only stones.
Facts create norms, and truth illumination.
There are deeper strata of truth in cinema., and there is such a thing as poetic, ecstatic truth. It’s mysterious and elusive, and can be reached only through fabrication and imagination and stylization.” — Werner Herzog

Comment on Niall Ferguson Has His Say On the Sudden Collapse of Empire: The Paintings of Thomas Cole by segmation

segmation — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 22:46:22 +0000

Nice article. Please check this out if you get a minute. http://segmation.wordpress.com/2011/03/26/thomas-cole-founder-of-the-hudson-river-school-www-segmation-com/. Thanks!

Comment on Some People Really Get Straight To The Truth: Tom Stoppard on “Accuracy” by Mick

Mick — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 15:53:49 +0000

Thanks for this Steve. Here are some other quotes along these lines. Both people are talking about relating actual events truthfully.

“…it is difficult to separate what happened from what seemed to happen. What seemed to happen becomes its own happening and has to be told that way. The angles of vision are skewed. Absolute occurrence is irrelevant. A thing may happen and be a total lie; another thing may not happen and be truer than the truth.” — Tim O’Brian (How to Tell a True War Story)

From Herzog’s “Minnesota Declaration.” http://www.wernerherzog.com/52.html#c93

Comment on The Sublime Beauty of the Ukelele by Steve Gorelick

Steve Gorelick — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 19:21:56 +0000

Alex:

Just looked at it.

Hosanna to Ukelele in the highest!

My Dad, my son, and one of my daughters are all Uke players!

Comment on The Sublime Beauty of the Ukelele by Alex

Alex — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 19:13:30 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puSkP3uym5k – This is a great video that I found of Shimabukuro playing While My guitar Gently weeps in Central Park.

Comment on In Memory of George “Mr. Spoons” Gully 1929 – 2010 by Mrs. Jean Gully

Mrs. Jean Gully — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 01:00:45 +0000

Dear Prof. Gorelick,
thank you so much for your very thoughtful remarks about my husband George “Mr. Spoon”)Gully. He would have been thrilled to know he was remembered by you. He loved entertaining people and he honed his talent at nursing homes, schools, street fairs and also appeared on TV a few times. He loved making people happy.

Thank you for remembering him,
Sincerely,
Mrs. Jean Gully

Comment on In Memory of George “Mr. Spoons” Gully 1929 – 2010 by Geryl "Gully" Vitagliano

Geryl "Gully" Vitagliano — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 03:58:53 +0000

Thank you for the memorial of my father. It is amazing how many lives he has touched. He would have been so happy to know the he has affected so many just by playing his spoons.

Comment on Jennifer Jones (1919 – 2009) by Steve Gorelick

Steve Gorelick — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 01:37:29 +0000

Paradigm: I think that you have a very good point.

Part of it also is that as a child it was so, so magical to me that there is no way that kind oif enchantment couod survive adolescence.

Steve