Some of the faces are great too. Freamon looks appropriately wizened, and Wallace has the sweetest and most sad face I've ever seen. In fact, I think Wallace is the single most tragic character in the history of film, tv or literature.
Oh, right right, Wallace; yes. The distress on his face after the murder of Omar's boyfriend was really well done. With proper lack of self control, I might finish the first season tomorrow.
I read a while back that every once in a while the guy who plays Stringer Bell, who's British, runs into fans in the States who are really enthusiastic about Bell's character. As in, kids who really admire Bell. The actor says that if he speaks in a British accent, kids think he's screwing with them, so he often finds himself staying in character when he's on the street.
Funny though, I didn't realize Bell was also British, and you'll note that McNulty and Bell both have walks that are noticably different from the other actors. A few years ago somewhere I was reading some European saying that he could always tell Americans, because they kick their feet out when they walk.
If you watch closely, though, or obsessively watch the episodes over-and-over again (um...) you'll notice that McNulty sometimes breaks accent, which is bad, despite his generally excellent performance. In particular, during drunk scenes. Maybe "drunk American accent" is harder to pull of than simple American accent.
BG: I read in some book somewhere--maybe a history of philosophy book or something, not a book about English--that the punctuation-inside-quotes style is more associated with British academia, while the other way is more American. I think the book may have been published some decades ago, though, so things may have changed. In any case, either is probably acceptable, and many prefer outside.
Well, I notice that certain Texans-turned-bloggers speak standard American English when sober and start slipping into accent when under the influence. Now I doubt the actor literally gets drunk before performing those scenes, but there may be something about trying to get into a drunk-like frame of mind that makes it hard to do accent-control.
in re: 15, actually, your usage is correct (in American usage; I don't know about the Brits). When the material being quoted is not itself a question, but the sentence as a whole is, the question mark goes outside.
that the punctuation-inside-quotes style is more associated with British academia,
I've always assumed that my confusion stemmed from reading a bunch of English novels as a kid.
British people generally place punctuation outside of the inverted commas (Brit-speak for quotation mark). A double mark signifies that it is a quote within a quote. Oddly enough, we do the opposite.
Mary Ellen Sue whispered "he was walking to the store, and he said 'don't come near me.' I didn't know what to say to him." That's the American version, and I think it's kind of weird.
Wouldn't it make more sense to write (assuming, course that it makes any sense to write dreck like that above):
Mary Ellen Sue whispered 'he was walking to the store, and he said "don't come near me." I didn't know what to say to him.'
My favorite punctuation mark is ";" in Greek. I don't know that they actually had much in the way of punctuation in ancient or even later manuscripts, but in modern editions of Ancient Greek texts what we use as a semi-colon is a question mark.
"British people generally place punctuation outside of the inverted commas (Brit-speak for quotation mark). A double mark signifies that it is a quote within a quote. Oddly enough, we do the opposite."
"We do the opposite", in both practices, or the latter? I can see where the British could have adopted the formerly American practice of punctuation outside quotes where appropriate since that passage I read was penned.
I can also see where everything I'm saying could be complete bullshit.
I never knew about the British using single-quotes as the main quote markers, though. I read a whole edition of Steinbeck novels (like, five of them) that used that convention, and I had never seen it before and haven't since. I don't remember when it was published.
I dunno, dude, I bet if word got out in the Lone Star State that you decided it would be more fun to talk about art then watch football that they'd take your citizenship away. Back on 12th street where I trace my roots that kind of thing is acceptable, but it doesn't really play in Red America.
It's true that I was at the museum for the Washington Redskins game. No doubt I was glued to the set for the Longhorns victory. While I should have been at a bar watching the Cowboys game so I could mock Giants fans (such as yourself) in a more informed way, I think I'm within bounds.
It's odd. I'm a Texan, and have some family with Texas and even East Texas accents (including a younger brother). I've spent over a decade living in places saturated with heavy Texas accents. And yet, my accent is at most vaguely southern, at best neutral midwest. Even when I'm drunk.
You're confusing the issue. Redskins football is still football, the museum is still . . . not football, but rather full of art and, in all likelihood, homosexuals. Think about it.
Smasher, I don't know if you've read your blog lately, but except for a few half-hearted attempts to pose as a real man by saying that you have a great TV package (wink wink), it's all about art.
It's at least possible (from what's here) that the exhibit he attended focused on the art and imagery of NFL logos. Let's wait until all of the information is in before we informed the TX govt. of its lapsed citizen.
NFL art, and all sports-themed art for that matter, tends to be by Peter Max, which means it's the gayest. However, insofar as gay means something like "tacky, cloying, sentimental and lacking in sublety" gay=Texas.
Some of the faces are great too. Freamon looks appropriately wizened, and Wallace has the sweetest and most sad face I've ever seen. In fact, I think Wallace is the single most tragic character in the history of film, tv or literature.
Posted by pjs | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 10:23 AM
I'm still on season 1: who's Wallace?
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 10:25 AM
He's the kid with the braids who works under D'Angelo. He becomes pretty important toward the end of season 1.
Posted by pjs | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 10:32 AM
Oh, right right, Wallace; yes. The distress on his face after the murder of Omar's boyfriend was really well done. With proper lack of self control, I might finish the first season tomorrow.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 10:35 AM
Godammit Ogged, now I'm going to have to go rent the first season again.
Posted by Jackmormon | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 10:37 AM
To borrow a phrase from McNulty, "What did I do?"
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 10:38 AM
Omar has pretty incredible presence.
Posted by Armsmasher | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 10:41 AM
I love the Asst. DA that McNulty occassionally sleeps with. I find her really attractive, and I can't figure out why.
Posted by SomeCallMeTim | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 10:56 AM
It is funny to see the actors from the wire on other TV cop shows.
Posted by Joe O | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 11:02 AM
There's a whole cop show neighborhood that a lot of character actors seem to live in.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 11:04 AM
And I'm not sure I'm ready to see McNulty speaking with his native British accent anywhere.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 11:06 AM
I read a while back that every once in a while the guy who plays Stringer Bell, who's British, runs into fans in the States who are really enthusiastic about Bell's character. As in, kids who really admire Bell. The actor says that if he speaks in a British accent, kids think he's screwing with them, so he often finds himself staying in character when he's on the street.
Posted by Armsmasher | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 11:06 AM
12, meet 11.
Posted by Armsmasher | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 11:06 AM
Funny though, I didn't realize Bell was also British, and you'll note that McNulty and Bell both have walks that are noticably different from the other actors. A few years ago somewhere I was reading some European saying that he could always tell Americans, because they kick their feet out when they walk.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 11:10 AM
What do you mean by "they kick their feet out when they walk"? (BTW, should I have put that question mark inside the quotation marks?)
Do you mean that we lead with our heels? Does this apply to women or just men?
Posted by bostoniangirl | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 11:13 AM
I took him to mean that we put our feet farther forward and higher than other people. Like a smallish goose-step.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 11:15 AM
bg, outside, good. Isn't McNulty Australian?
Posted by Armsmasher | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 11:23 AM
Should actors in shows we love even be allowed to take other roles? I submit that they should not.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 11:23 AM
Isn't McNulty Australian
Not according to IMDB.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 11:25 AM
If you watch closely, though, or obsessively watch the episodes over-and-over again (um...) you'll notice that McNulty sometimes breaks accent, which is bad, despite his generally excellent performance. In particular, during drunk scenes. Maybe "drunk American accent" is harder to pull of than simple American accent.
Posted by Wehttam Saiselgy | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 11:36 AM
Yeah, I've noticed that; I think British is the universal accent of all drunks.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 11:37 AM
BG: I read in some book somewhere--maybe a history of philosophy book or something, not a book about English--that the punctuation-inside-quotes style is more associated with British academia, while the other way is more American. I think the book may have been published some decades ago, though, so things may have changed. In any case, either is probably acceptable, and many prefer outside.
Posted by pdf23ds | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 12:44 PM
re puctuation american-style--- oberseve:
."
?"
":
";
violin, viola, VOILA. That's it.
Posted by Mark | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 1:00 PM
" (#).
Posted by eb | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 1:14 PM
Well, I notice that certain Texans-turned-bloggers speak standard American English when sober and start slipping into accent when under the influence. Now I doubt the actor literally gets drunk before performing those scenes, but there may be something about trying to get into a drunk-like frame of mind that makes it hard to do accent-control.
Posted by Wehttam Saiselgy | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 1:20 PM
in re: 15, actually, your usage is correct (in American usage; I don't know about the Brits). When the material being quoted is not itself a question, but the sentence as a whole is, the question mark goes outside.
so
He asked me, "Do you have any sugar?"
vs.
What do you mean, "at the mineshaft"?
Posted by silvana | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 1:31 PM
pdf23ds--
that the punctuation-inside-quotes style is more associated with British academia,
I've always assumed that my confusion stemmed from reading a bunch of English novels as a kid.
British people generally place punctuation outside of the inverted commas (Brit-speak for quotation mark). A double mark signifies that it is a quote within a quote. Oddly enough, we do the opposite.
Mary Ellen Sue whispered "he was walking to the store, and he said 'don't come near me.' I didn't know what to say to him." That's the American version, and I think it's kind of weird.
Wouldn't it make more sense to write (assuming, course that it makes any sense to write dreck like that above):
Mary Ellen Sue whispered 'he was walking to the store, and he said "don't come near me." I didn't know what to say to him.'
My favorite punctuation mark is ";" in Greek. I don't know that they actually had much in the way of punctuation in ancient or even later manuscripts, but in modern editions of Ancient Greek texts what we use as a semi-colon is a question mark.
Posted by bostoniangirl | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 1:33 PM
Of course, if it were perfectly logical it would be
He asked me, "Do you have any sugar?".
But not all of us are that literal-minded.
Posted by pdf23ds | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 1:34 PM
"British people generally place punctuation outside of the inverted commas (Brit-speak for quotation mark). A double mark signifies that it is a quote within a quote. Oddly enough, we do the opposite."
"We do the opposite", in both practices, or the latter? I can see where the British could have adopted the formerly American practice of punctuation outside quotes where appropriate since that passage I read was penned.
I can also see where everything I'm saying could be complete bullshit.
I never knew about the British using single-quotes as the main quote markers, though. I read a whole edition of Steinbeck novels (like, five of them) that used that convention, and I had never seen it before and haven't since. I don't remember when it was published.
Posted by pdf23ds | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 1:39 PM
Texans-turned-bloggers
Dude, I'm still a Texan when I blog. Don't you negate me, Witthelm.
Posted by Armsmasher | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 1:45 PM
I dunno, dude, I bet if word got out in the Lone Star State that you decided it would be more fun to talk about art then watch football that they'd take your citizenship away. Back on 12th street where I trace my roots that kind of thing is acceptable, but it doesn't really play in Red America.
Posted by Wehttam Saiselgy | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 1:50 PM
It's true that I was at the museum for the Washington Redskins game. No doubt I was glued to the set for the Longhorns victory. While I should have been at a bar watching the Cowboys game so I could mock Giants fans (such as yourself) in a more informed way, I think I'm within bounds.
What I need here is a pithy quote from The Wire.
Posted by Armsmasher | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 2:05 PM
It's odd. I'm a Texan, and have some family with Texas and even East Texas accents (including a younger brother). I've spent over a decade living in places saturated with heavy Texas accents. And yet, my accent is at most vaguely southern, at best neutral midwest. Even when I'm drunk.
Posted by pdf23ds | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 2:06 PM
Yeah, Armsmasher, it's not like you sold out 90% of the state recently. (I don't know why I'm complaining about this, since I agree with you.)
Posted by Matt Weiner | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 2:28 PM
Witthelm's always going on about how sometimes we're from Austin and other times we're from Texas, but I don't know what he's talking about.
Posted by Armsmasher | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 3:30 PM
You're confusing the issue. Redskins football is still football, the museum is still . . . not football, but rather full of art and, in all likelihood, homosexuals. Think about it.
Posted by Wehttam Saiselgy | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 3:31 PM
I was raised to believe that all Redskins football was played ATM.
Posted by Armsmasher | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 3:36 PM
Smasher, I don't know if you've read your blog lately, but except for a few half-hearted attempts to pose as a real man by saying that you have a great TV package (wink wink), it's all about art.
Smasher=Kriston=art=gay≠Texas.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 3:46 PM
It's at least possible (from what's here) that the exhibit he attended focused on the art and imagery of NFL logos. Let's wait until all of the information is in before we informed the TX govt. of its lapsed citizen.
Posted by SomeCallMeTim | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 3:49 PM
NFL art, and all sports-themed art for that matter, tends to be by Peter Max, which means it's the gayest. However, insofar as gay means something like "tacky, cloying, sentimental and lacking in sublety" gay=Texas.
Posted by pjs | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 4:02 PM
Being called gay by you guys is like being called ugly by a toad.
Posted by Armsmasher | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 4:02 PM
Also, I'll have you know I was looking at big, fucking Roman statues. Of real men. There's just nothing gay about it.
Posted by Armsmasher | Link to this comment | 10-17-05 4:05 PM