Well everyone, this is my last day here at the Bakoffice.  I have been busy getting everything together for my move to San Diego, and it doesn't stop when I get there.  So in case I am out of the fray for a couple weeks, just know that I am sitting in beautiful weather, breathing some clean air, and wondering why my lungs are burning. Even though this isn't goodbye forever, it is a goodbye.  Thanks to everyone who has shown me that this town is not as bad as people think (as long as you are 21).  Haha.  So thanks again everyone.   Wish me luck!

P.S. To Annie, Joe, Don, BLT, and anyone else who I've had some fun debates with over the year:  OBAMA '08!

I think the problem with race is this: until somebody tells us that things might be happening because of our skin color, we have to assume two other alternatives.  The first is that we are doing something short of what is necessary to achieve our goals, and the second is that we are hindered by other personality prejudices or other character incompatibilities. 

But now I want to bring up something that I’ve started to see that is no doubt controversial and up for debate.  I was watching CNN’s “Black in America” this weekend (which you should watch if you get the chance, it is very well put together). 

The controversy deals with the notions of ‘acting white’ and ‘selling out to whitey’.  And the thing is, that perception seemed to be communicated by a number of the mainstream hip-hop community and other members of the black entertainment industry.  Basically, my abbreviated point is this: there is a particular group of the entertainment industry that rails against the powers that be (the white authority) and uses that message to elevate themselves into power positions.  This method has proven effective in getting them up into those positions of power which many thought unattainable for black people.  But now, with the evidence proving that getting there is possible, those who currently hold the power are feeling threatened.  If we have reached the point where we have seen the potential of minorities to reach the highest office in the land, we have clearly begun to (not completely) overcome many of those issues which have divided us as a nation throughout our history. 

What this means now is that a message which held relevance in the past is in need of modification. But if that message – the one which has evolved to say minorities will always be held down by the white man and there is nothing they can do about it but rap and play sports and be pseudo-revolutionaries with no real goals but dreams without meaningful action – is not modified, then we will fail to see any great progress made in race relations in this country. 

But unfortunately that’s a roadblock I have seen as far as race relations are concerned.  The idea that being educated is being white, that speaking coherently is being white.  Which is not true, because I’ve known plenty of white people that can’t speak coherently or have the reading level of a 4^th grader.  Education does not make you white, education allows you to make informed choices and draw conclusions based off reality.

We will all be treated differently.  Whether it is for skin color, hair color, demeanor, posture, gesticulation, there are an infinite number of reasons people will modify their behavior toward us.  So it is not about saying “We can never be” it is about saying “We will still be, regardless of”    

This is my philosophy on politics: it is not who is more right, but who grabs the most attractive position first, regardless of it's grounding in good evidence.

Don't get me wrong, abolishing slavery and woman's suffrage were good ideas, but what happens when subjects change and the 'progressive' wisdom doesn't seem as legitimate as it has been in previous years?  The same thing that happens with any group that gains power - it's preservation is fought for out of fear of losing that power. 

I've been thinking lately about the nature of power and the power of argumentation over rationale.  Because unfortunately fallacy can be a powerful persuader of the common man. 

Why is it that a black person can say "Nigger" and a white person can't?  Reverse racism, that's why!  How come gays can say "Fag" but it's homophobic when a straight person says it?  Because we are trying to protect the gays right to speech but smother dissention to that lifestyle!  But really - why?  Simple, because the terms have been laced with connotations that reach down much further than it being "simply a word."  So we try to stop ourselves there.  We try to prevent ourselves from stepping on the toes of the historically oppressed and we try to present ourselves as 'enlightened' and 'progressive', because the term 'Conservative' has become an insult in the minds of many.  So then we continue moving in our shroud of 'progressive' tendencies and develop a smug sense of self-satisfaction that keeps us warm at night in our blogosphere/don't have to really do much but 'imagine a world' to be considered forward-thinking... o-dome. 

I'm tired of forward thinking. I want forward doing.  And not only that, I want forward-doing that doesn't run the risk of becoming so 'enlightened' that it loses all grounding in reality simply because the premises of what has been makes you feel better than facing what exists now.  And furthermore, I want to meet the forward-thinker who denounces bigotry and actually means it.  The one who calls for questioning authority and truly means just that.

Because questioning authority isn't merely some concept that means listening to your music really loud and disrespecting "The Man!"  It is a calculated and self-reflective tool that relies not only on your ability to disagree with those in power, but also to agree with those in power if they are in the right by means of discriminating between sound and unsound arguments.

But we are all about fashion today.  Fashion sets off a visceral comfort that makes it so much easier to play make-believe than to actually make reality. 

I want to meet the person who wants to combat poverty, but not be ignorant to the fact that it isn't just the system that keeps people down, but sometimes the people themselves.  I want to meet the person who realizes that welfare checks aren't going to set people up to live a life of luxury and that maybe circumstances just force that position in some.  I want to meet the person who can acknowledge that feeding a family of 6 is not an easy thing to do, and that help should be implimented, but also that personal choice dicates where some of these people go and trying to address that isn't going to dis-enlighten you or make you an evil Republican.

So where are these people?

It's late, I'm going to sleep. I know there isn't enough written here to truly get at what I mean, maybe I'll elaborate when I have time and you feel like reading 500 pages of self-inflated bullsh*t.  Ta.

Welcome back to another exciting week of Bakotopia, the internet edition.  If you missed this weekend, you missed some crazy things... I tell you what!

That's all for now! Stay tuned!

If anyone needs something to do tonight, come down to Vinny's Bar on South Union to check out local comedians Bobby D, Joe Alaniz and a bunch of others (myself included).  Cover is $5 and you should get there around 8:30.  Oh, and it is a CASH ONLY bar so ... you know... bring cash.

So heres whats happening that none of you should miss this weekend:

Friday 12:00 a.m.:  The Dark Knight hits theaters

Friday at 9:00 p.m.:  Bakersfield comedians, including yours truly, will be performing at Vinny's Bar on South Union starting at 9 with a $5 cover.

Saturday at 9:00 p.m.: Mento Buru is going to tear it up at B-Ryder's on White Lane near Gosford (next to the Movie Gallery)!

You're not going to have a boring weekend now are you?

Hello Bakersfield!  How are you doing?  Good?  That's nice to hear.  Not so good?  I'm sorry to hear.  Maybe you should try drinking a nice refreshing glass of iced tea and throw some music on.  Anyway, I'm getting ready for another days work, so I thought I'd check in with all of you Bakotopians and see how your week has been treating you.  Life has been giving out lemons lately for a lot of people, and in the exchange rate is going to kick your ass a little bit more.  So how abouts we try this: anything particularly good happen this week?  Maybe found $5 in your jeans that you had forgotten about, or maybe you bought a small smoothie from Jamba Juice and they just gave you a large one because they made extra?  Hmm?  Hmm?   C'mon...share something! 

And while you are thinking of something to share, we have some good stuff coming in the next issue, so if you want to be part of the magic, send something in! 

So for those of you who missed it last night (thankfully all of you), I've been doing a practice set at Sandrini's open mics for the last couple weeks.  They had gone over pretty well, but last night was not one of those 'pretty well' nights. 

After leaving work a bit stressed from my back hurting all night while we were getting hit relentlessly with customers, I went down to the bar to do my last practice run before the show Saturday.  Apparently when I get there though, there are actually people there this time, which has not been the case the past couple of weeks, and this time Chrisanova was back hosting. He seems like a good guy, don't get me wrong, but somebody can definitely help set the stage for a bad show just by the way they introduce you.

I ask him if there is a spot open, he asks what I'm doing, I say "I'm doing a stand-up set", and then I get a look from him like I showed up in a Harry Potter get-up at a Star Wars premiere.  But since I had done it the past two weeks while he wasn't there, he said he'd let me go on.  Which works for me.

But then by the time I actually get on, I've had a few more drinks, which does not help memory: case study Me.  And after you get asked through a supressed grimmace how long your set is, and then your intro is "Well, we don't normally do this, this is usually reserved for musicians, but here's Chase", which feels a bit like someone saying "Why did you have to bring My Chemical Romance to my Metallica party?"  but they are still trying to be accomodating.  It just doesn't make for a very good vibe in the room.  But after awkward pauses, feeling like I have to rush through my material, feeling like if I move around on stage I'd trip over the chords and chairs (and a few good chuckles), I finished up and got out.  

Now my point is:  there is really no point, it was just lame.  

larger view

Saturday July 5th @ the Empty Space theater

Bakersfield Stands Up

A local stand-up comedy show featuring all local comedians

Featuring:

Tyson Paul
Dane Forst
Chase Brockett
Joe Alaniz

and more!

Show starts at 8:00 p.m. and costs $5 which goes to benefit the theater, which is non-profit. 

Oh yes... and beers will be $1

So make sure to come down and check out Bakersfield's burgeoning comedy scene!