1008 - Pop Culture Vs Real America - English - Hi Res

POP CULTURE
VERSUS [ \
REAL AMERICA
1008_Pop Culture vs Real America_English.indd 1 4/9/15 12:06 PM
“I know that the
stereotypes of the
United States are out
there. And I know
that many of them are
informed not by direct
exchange or dialogue,
but by television
shows and movies and
misinformation.”
— PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

POP CULTURE
[V ERSUS\
REAL AMERICA
CONTENTS
Introduction by Andrew Ferguson ........................................................................................ 2

Krusty Burger by Chester Pach* .......................................................... 6
FOOD
Farm to Table: Fresh for the Picking by Karen Hofstein .......... 7
Baywatch ....................................................................................................... 12
LIFEGUARDS
Saving Lives Takes More Than a Nice Tan by Valerie Due ... 13
Unforgiven .................................................................................................... 18
COWBOY
Modern-Day Cowboy by Candy Moulton ........................................... 19
CSI: C rime Scene Investigation .................................................. 24
POLICE CHIEF
All’s Quiet on the Small-Town Front by Brian Heyman .......... 25
Pulp Fiction ............................................................................................... 30
GUN OWNER
Safety and Security: Twin Priorities by Megan A. Wong......... 31
Grey’s Anatomy ....................................................................................... 36
DOCTOR
A Passion to Serve by Megan A. Wong ................................................. 37
Gossip Girl .................................................................................................. 42
TEENAGER
Helping Family, Friends, and Her Community ..................... 43
by Megan A. Wong
Boston Legal .............................................................................................. 48

LAWYER
Ethical Advocate by Karen Hofstein ....................................................... 49
Notorious ..................................................................................................... 54
MUSICIANS
Perfecting Their Pitch by Brian Heyman ............................................ 55
IMMIGRANT Desperate Housewives ..................................................................... 60

FAMILY Their Own Support Network by Joshua K. Handell ..................... 61
Montgomery Burns .............................................................................. 66
WIND FARMER
Cutting Costs While Saving the Earth by Gail Kalinoski ....... 67
Dr. Phil ............................................................................................................ 72
PSYCHOLOGIST
Helping Youth, One Conversation at a Time ........................... 73
by Sonya F. Weakley
By the Numbers (Facts and Figures) ......................................................................... 78
*All television and cinema profiles are written by Chester Pach.

INTRODUCTION
BY ANDREW FERGUSON
O
ur opening scene takes He’s a very large man, not that he might, when in Rome, be
place in Rome, early fat, necessarily, but brawny and speaking a foreign language.
morning, late summer, in big boned. He has evidently tried “I’m from Minneapolis,” he
the breakfast room of a moderately to pull himself together, though goes on. “My wife and I just got in.
priced albergo (hotel), catering to without much success. His A long flight. I told her I’d grab her
the tourist trade, a stone’s throw hair sprays off in all directions, a blueberry muffin. Haven’t slept in
from the Pantheon. The waiters, defeating his every attempt to a day. We’re from Minneapolis.”
Filipino natives, hover in their smooth it into shape with his The waiter points him to
white waistcoats as the hotel guests, beefy hand. His shirttails are the buffet.
families from the United Kingdom, busy untucking themselves from “Where are the blueberry
France, Greece, and Spain mostly, his pants, which are hitched two muffins?” he booms, craning his
graze over the croissants and inches too high. His socks are neck and scanning the breakfast
sweets and pitchers of juice, white and they droop. breads and bowls of fruit. “She’s
maintaining a polite indifference He approaches one of the really hungry. We just flew in.
to one another in their respective waiters and vigorously shakes From Minneapolis.”
zones of privacy. Everything is a his hand. And so he prattles on,
hum of efficiency and competence, “I heard there was a free expressing astonishment, though
executed in the hushed tones complimentary buffet breakfast no resentment, that there are
appropriate to the hour. down here,” he says, redundantly. no blueberry muffins — “How
Then the doors of the elevator And of course he says it in English, can you have breakfast without
slide open, and there he is. with no thought to the possibility blueberry muffins?” he wonders
2 POP CULTURE VERSUS REAL AMERICA

aloud — and then surprise at the Everyone from the United States Obama said, to see the United
absence of bagels and veggie cream lives with the phrase “the ugly States through the icons its pop
cheese. He mentions that he’s American,” taken from a best- culture has produced — this
flown all night, from Minneapolis, selling book and popular movie means you, Homer — and the
where he’s from; his wife too. from the early 1960s, but when icons and stereotypes can best be
All eyes have turned to him I recall the muffin-seeker from rebutted by exposing them to that
by now. Trying to disguise his Minneapolis, I wonder whether universal disinfectant, real life.
dissatisfaction, he heaps two plastic the ugly American hasn’t been As you read along, threading
plates with booty and cradles replaced by another caricature: your way between the pop icons
them in his arms. Offering a final not sinister but hapless, not rude on the one hand and the real
update, he announces, loudly, that but loud, unsophisticated, kind of Americans on the other, you’re
he will take the food upstairs to his goofy, a buffoon. We’ve exchanged likely to glimpse several themes
wife, who has flown, sleepless, all one stereotype for another — or emerging. One unavoidable fact
night. From Minneapolis. for several, just as powerful, just is that many of these stereotypes
“Have a nice day,” he calls out as mistaken. contain a kernel of truth. Our
as the elevator door slides shut, “I know that the stereotypes gabby Minneapolitan in Rome did
just in time to avoid hearing the of the United States are out there,” bear a punch-drunk resemblance
snickers from the other guests. President Obama told a gathering to Marge Simpson’s husband.
One of the children looks up from of university students in Istanbul If he’s anything like his fellow
her buttered toast. in 2009. “And I know that many of countrymen, however, the
“Americaine!” she says. “D’oh!” them are informed not by direct breakfasters would have missed a
She’s doing a Homer Simpson, and exchange or dialogue, but by lot about him by settling for the
the breakfast room rings out in television shows and movies and stereotype.
laughter. misinformation.” What they didn’t see — to
Since I watched it unfold This book is an effort to correct take a few examples — were the
last summer, a week hasn’t gone some of the misimpressions. hours he likely devotes to the
by that I haven’t thought of this The premise is simple and the Lion’s Club back home (Americans
globalized tableau, sometimes technique is straightforward: The spent eight billion man-hours on
amused, sometimes horrified. world is often misled, as President volunteer service in 2008) or the
POP CULTURE VERSUS REAL AMERICA 3

Sunday school class he teaches at of hard training in a surprising a girl she won nine gold medals in
church each week (more than half range of skills, from rowing to U.S. Figure Skating Association
of all Americans regularly attend a rock climbing, with the end in competitions — but she settled on
house of worship) or the money he view, always, of preserving human music because, she says, “Beautiful
gives to keep the local soup kitchen life. The bouncing is optional. sounds please people.” A life of
in operation (Americans donated The pride that ocean lifeguards serious musicianship is unlikely
more than $300 billion to charity take in the less eventful aspects to offer the material rewards that
in 2008 — that’s three hundred of their work points us towards Christopher Wallace reaped even
billion in dough, not D’oh). another theme peeking from in the three years of his fame, as
Or ponder the reality of beneath the icons. Americans place Quinnett well knows. “I wouldn’t
Baywatch, as Valerie Due does a high value on craft, a job done really judge my success,” she says,
here. It’s arguably one of the well. It’s unsettling to note that the “by how well known [I am] or how
most popular television shows late rapper, Christopher Wallace, much money [I make].”
in history, notable mainly for known as Notorious B.I.G., is That’s another theme echoing
demonstrating the large variety deemed an icon of American through these pages: It’s not
of romantic entanglements that musicianship around the world. about the money. To the students
can befall mesomorphs as they Wallace directed his undoubted in Istanbul, President Obama
bounce around in tiny swimsuits. talent to violence, misogyny, lamented how often pop culture
There’s a glimmer of truth in the and explicit depictions of sex — depicts Americans as “selfish and
caricature; anyone who visits an subjects that deaden craftsmanship crass.” Throw in a good deal of
American beach can testify to far more decisively than they bedhopping, and you’ve got an
the enviable vigor and ardor of inspire it. accurate description of America’s
ocean lifeguards. But beyond the Consider, in contrast, the iconic professionals, the attorneys
glimmer (and the glamour) is alternative, the real thing: Robyn on Boston Legal or the doctors
the much more admirable reality Quinnett, a young African- on Grey’s Anatomy. But it bears
of the job itself, which values American violinist, studying at no resemblance to the life led by
dramatic escapades much less Juilliard. Quinnett might have Richard Beilin, who decided to
than their prevention. Ocean applied her gifts of perseverance forego high-priced corporate work
lifeguarding requires tedious hours and discipline to other fields — as to become a small-town lawyer

in Morristown, New Jersey, or “In those shows it seems like distorted anecdote. What they
by M. Natalie Achong, M.D., a all the girls are focused on the present is less sensational, more
native of Queens and Brooklyn, social part of their lives,” says prosaic, and, in the end, more
New York, who works in hospitals Katheryn, who has other things moving and more human. It’s
that specialize in serving the poor to do. There’s counseling at the a nation of real people, at once
while rearing two children of sleepaway camp, volunteering to big-hearted, hard working,
her own. tutor classmates, and organizing painstaking, imaginative, stirred
“I feel there’s a higher calling toy drives for poor children. Blair by fellow feeling, and on the whole
in working and imparting the best and Serena, phone your therapists. quite admirable — even if, once in
medicine to those who maybe can’t Every essay here contains a while, we go looking, too loudly,
afford the ‘good doctors,’” she says. a surprise like Katheryn — a for blueberry muffins in all the
“It’s not just about making money.” surprise, anyway, to those who wrong places.
Most Americans would agree were expecting Serena and Blair
— doctors or lawyers, fiddlers or and who have taken the measure
lifeguards, whether native-born of U.S. culture by the pop icons it
or citizens of more recent vintage. has produced, sometimes for good Andrew Ferguson is a senior
Katheryn Conde, whose parents but more often for ill. Through editor at the Weekly Standard
arrived from El Salvador shortly the icons, the world sees a quite magazine. He has written for the
before she was born, enriches a different sort of American: vain New Yorker, the New York Times,
life already filled with two jobs and oversexed, miserly and self- the Washington Post, and many
and school work by committing obsessed, prone to violence, a other publications and is the author
herself to community service. bit nutty. of Land of Lincoln: Adventures in
She confesses puzzlement at That imaginary country is Abe’s America. His newest book
the iconic American teens she’s ripe for debunking, which is is College Crazy: The Reluctant
seen flouncing across the fantasy why the book you hold in your Education of a Baaaaaad Dad
(forthcoming from Simon and
Manhattan of Gossip Girl, like hands is so welcome. These
Schuster).
the vampiric Blair Waldorf or are portraits drawn from life,
the predatory Serena van der not caricatures inflated from
Woodsen. conjecture, misjudgment, and

Krusty Burger
“PUTS THE ‘DIE’ IN DIET”
Greasy, fattening, and zero nutritional value:

Krusty Burgers are the Simpson family’s favorite meal.
T
here’s no place like Krusty has shocking blue hair and a huge Burgers to make new ones. When
Burger, the fast-food res- smile, but he’s anything but hilarious studies revealed that the Krusty
taurant on the television off camera. He has gambling Burger was “the unhealthiest fast-
program The Simpsons, for a quick debts, alimony payments, and an food item in the world,” Krusty
meal that’s just a little bit differ- addiction to a prescription pain- created a new Mother Earth Burger,
ent. On the menu is the signature killer. He’ll sell almost anything made from barley and packaged in
Krusty Burger, “which is deep- under the Krusty brand name to a green wrapper. “I’m saving the
fried with love.” Also available is make money, and he couldn’t care Earth,” Homer Simpson exclaimed
the Clogger, a pork sandwich that less about product safety. His home as he bit into his “eco-licious”
got its name from the effects of pregnancy tests produced so many burger. He soon had a different
its greasy contents on stomachs false positives that he pulled them reaction. Like everybody who ate
and arteries. Diners can also en- off the market and repackaged a Mother Earth Burger, he got
joy a Partially Gelatinated Non- them as coffee stirrers. He put a sick from tainted barley. As usual,
dairy Gum-Based Beverage, which jagged metal Krusty O in each box Krusty avoided the consequences
tastes like a milkshake but proba- of his breakfast cereal. After eating of another bad product. Instead,
bly doesn’t contain a drop of milk, one of the metal O’s, Bart needed the farmers and grain processors
or of anything natural. surgery to remove his appendix. who supplied the bad barley went
Bart and Lisa Simpson enjoy Krusty also relies on dubious out of business.
eating at Krusty Burger because business practices in his chain of — CHESTER PACH
they’re big fans of Krusty the fast-food restaurants. His only
Clown, the star of a popular interest in recycling is using the
children’s television show. Krusty uneaten portions of old Krusty

FARM TO TABLE:
FRESH FOR THE PICKING
BY KAREN HOFSTEIN
Farmers market shoppers browse
A
a wide selection of locally grown
hundred years ago, the is flanked by tall office buildings produce.
scene was not unusual. and megastores like Barnes &
Farmers with baskets of Noble, Babies“R”Us, and Best Buy.
juicy yellow peaches, crates of ripe Located on Broadway between
red berries, and bushels of fragrant East 14th and 17th Streets, Union heavily advertised fast-food
green vegetables would set up Square is the year-round site of behemoths, many people seek
stalls in the village marketplace. a farmers market that convenes more healthful food options. A
Customers would flood into the rain or shine four times a week. number of shoppers, concerned
market to purchase food for the Customers perusing the vast array about the environment, like to
coming week, bargaining and of fruits, vegetables, dairy products, purchase organic foods that are
exchanging the news of the day. meats, and baked goods are likely to free of pesticides. This explains
Now the village marketplace is be plugged into their MP3 players, the enormous popularity of
located within the busy streets of checking their BlackBerries, or the farmers markets, which are
New York City. The small park in attending to their cell phones. sponsored by Greenmarket, a
Manhattan known as Union Square Despite the prevalence of privately funded program of the

Council on the Environment of
New York City. In addition to the
large market at Union Square,
there are farmers markets at 48
other locations throughout the
New York City area. Some open
only at certain times during the
year. One of these more popular
seasonal sites is at Rockefeller
Center, site of NBC studios and
Radio City Music Hall. Tourists
visiting during the summertime
are surprised to see farmers selling
produce, honey, and baked goods
at the site of the world famous
Christmas tree.
Heather Lindsey, a freelance
health and medical writer, is a
regular shopper at the Union
Square farmers market. Growing
up in Portland, Oregon, she says
she was always used to having
access to fresh produce. Since
moving to New York 12 years ago,
she was happy to discover the
farmers markets.
Standing outside the Our
Daily Bread stall after buying a
whole wheat pan loaf, Lindsey
says, “I love farmers markets.” She
especially enjoys talking with the
farmers from the surrounding
New York, New Jersey, and
Pennsylvania areas. “I buy bread
here a lot,” she says. “I like the egg
stand around the corner. There The citizens of Springfield, the home of The Simpsons, cannot get enough
is a goat cheese stand. And any artery-clogging fast food.
of the vegetable stands are great.
I don’t like to focus on just one
stand. I like to spread it out so I eating with more fruits and a lot of satisfaction from it.”
can support a number of farmers vegetables and reducing meat To that end, she recently took
versus just one.” consumption. a course at the Institute of
A self-described “big fan of She says, “We have been Culinary Education.
Michael Pollan and his book, The cooking in [at home] a lot more She goes on to list an eclectic
Omnivore’s Dilemma,” Lindsey due to the economy. I love the array of mouthwatering meals she
says she liked the idea of healthful creativity of cooking and I get has whipped up in recent weeks:

New Yorkers from all walks of life enjoy fresh air
and fresh foods at these outdoor markets.

Kilos of carrots, mounds of melons: Nutrition-conscious
consumers search for the best deals on fruits and veggies.
Local farmers are happy to help their regular customers.

vegetable and egg tart with whole sparkling eyes, she is a secondary The farmers market, in fact,
wheat crust, scrambled eggs with school teacher who lives with her is full of children who are learning
shrimp, whole wheat waffles, teenage daughter in Brooklyn. what onion and garlic bulbs look
linguini with clam sauce, and Berkovic marvels at the like when they are pulled fresh
quesadillas. The last of these, she freshness of the produce at the from the ground. They are thrilled
says, is easy, “You just throw farmers market. Carrying an to find peaches still attached
in whatever leftovers you have insulated bag with a frozen to twigs and leaves. They find
in the fridge.” pack to keep things fresh, she potatoes still encrusted with rich-
Her husband, Michael Mandel, regularly stocks up on the market’s smelling soil. These city dwellers
a photo editor, says that they cook fingerling potatoes, cucumbers, are learning about healthful food
a lot of ethnic foods at home, carrots, and tomatoes. She says, in its most natural state.
including Italian and Mexican. “The food here lasts much longer
Lindsey adds, “I try to do some in the refrigerator.”
Thai dishes, some Indian dishes. I Berkovic laughs that her own
am sure it’s not totally authentic, cooking repertoire is somewhat Karen Hofstein is a writer in
but it tastes good.” limited. “I don’t have a big kitchen. New York City.
Mandel notes that when So I mainly cut up things and
shopping at the farmers market, cook them. ”
“You have a real connection to With making sure that her
the food.” daughter “eats healthy” as her
Following a childhood of priority, she says, “I am looking for
eating “classical American fast different vitamins and I prefer to
food,” he became a vegetarian get them in food rather than
22 years ago. “At the time it was a tablet.”
very political,” he says. “I just As a teacher of biology and
realized how everything about earth science in the New York City
meat turned me off. The cost. The public school system, Berkovic
fact that so much grain and water has seen a marked change in the
goes to cattle and not to human school’s cafeteria food in recent
beings. The fact that it wasn’t years. She says, “They have taken
good for you.” all the junk food machines out
He adds, “It has been amazing and have healthier alternatives.”
over the past 20 years to see how Specifically, she has observed an
[vegetarianism] has become more increase in whole-grain foods and
mainstream. When I became a low-fat items. “I have seen a lot
vegetarian in the mid-1980s, it of improvement.” She sighs, “Of
was still associated with a kind course they still serve French fries.
of 1960s revolutionary culture. They will always serve French fries.
And health food stores were sort Some kids will only eat that.”
of hippie-ish. Over 20 years it
has changed. Now you can go to
almost any restaurant and get
veggie burgers.”
Another regular shopper at
Union Square market is Shoshana
Berkovic. A vibrant woman with

Baywatch
“FANTASY LIFEGUARDS LOOK HOT IN THE SUN”
They brave the waves and bare (almost) all.
A
s a youth, President Ron- and other perils, using their own ous efforts to keep in shape. Many
ald Reagan was a lifeguard strength and speed in the water, episodes showed slow-motion
who saved 77 people from as well as speedboats and helicop- scenes of them exercising or run-
drowning at Lowell Park in Dix- ters, to save lives. ning on the beach. Often they
on, Illinois. Yet Reagan achieved Maybe it’s because the Bay- wore tight, brief swimsuits that
far less fame for his heroics than watch crew makes fearless efforts revealed muscled thighs, ripped
Mitch Bucannon and C. J. Parker, to protect the gorgeous waters off abdominals, or impressive chests.
members of the Baywatch crew at the California coast for swimming C. J. and her friends were in such
Malibu Beach in California. Bay- and surfing. In one episode, Mitch extraordinary condition that their
watch became the most popular was poisoned when he swam in appearance could fool beachgo-
television show in history. Dur- contaminated waters. C. J. and ers. Once when two of the wom-
ing the mid-1990s, it aired in 140 her friends traced the chemical en in the Baywatch crew asked a
countries and attracted more to a seedy business engaged in il- photographer to move down the
than one billion viewers. Millions legal offshore dumping. She saved beach to a safer area, he looked
of people still watch reruns of the Mitch’s life and put the polluters at them and declared, “These are
program. Why has Baywatch been out of business. The “green” val- models.” No, they replied. “We’re
so popular? ues of the Baywatch lifeguards lifeguards.”
Perhaps it’s because of the may explain their popularity. — CHESTER PACH
bravery of C. J., Mitch, and the Or perhaps so many people
other lifeguards. Often ignor- enjoy Baywatch because of the fit-
ing their own safety, they rescue ness of the lifeguards. Mitch, C. J.,
swimmers from riptides, sharks, and their coworkers made strenu-

SAVING LIVES TAKES
MORE THAN A NICE TAN
BY VALERIE DUE
Lifeguard Katherine Jackson
T
educates beachgoers on how to stay
he white truck brakes in the knows where to find his parents safe in the surf.
thick sand and a bronzed before both guards return to
male lifeguard leaps out, their watches.
red plastic rescue buoy in one Lifeguard Sergeant Casey
hand, running for the surf. He Owens finishes a radio call in [their child was in danger],” he
reaches the water’s edge, white- his lifeguard vehicle, waiting for says. “People look away for a
edged waves rushing his ankles, the young lifeguard to return few seconds.”
then slows. A female guard from before he continues his patrol The rescued boy has returned
the three-sided seasonal watch along San Diego’s busy Pacific to his towel, where his mother
tower has beaten him to the surf, Beach. He speaks without turning hovers over him. He was lucky.
where a boy about 10 years old from the water, where his eyes slide Lucky because he’s at the beach
struggles, arms flailing as his along the splashing crowds and on a beautiful summer Saturday,
head dips in the water. The guard bobbing surfers. and lucky because someone was
tows the boy to shallow waters “Sometimes you save a kid and watching over him at this beach:
and makes sure he’s okay and find out their parents had no idea the lifeguards.

The beach lifeguard became an goes to work to keep people safe at that never happen, thanks to
American pop icon in the 1960s, the beach,” said lifeguard Sergeant preventive actions taken by the
with the advent of beach-bikini Katherine Jackson, also of the San lifeguard service, such as stopping
movies featuring surfers, Frankie Diego Lifeguard Service. “Our children from playing in surf close
Avalon and Gidget, and became an single most important role is the to a current that might pull them
international icon after the 1990s rescue and safety of beachgoers offshore, known as a rip current.
Baywatch. With his bronzed torso, every day, but that is really about More than 80 percent of all rescues
sun-bleached hair, and skimpy surf mitigating the actual need are the result of rip currents.
trunks, the image of a lifeguard as for rescue.” Jackson manages a team of
a carefree playboy surfed around San Diego’s beaches welcome male and female lifeguards on
the world. But for real lifeguards, more than 20 million visitors San Diego’s busy Mission Beach, a
a workday focuses on preventing each year, and lifeguards make three-mile (five-kilometer) stretch
dramatic rescues whenever about 6,000 rescues annually. of wide, golden sand bordered by a
possible through vigilance and But the number of rescues is paved boardwalk on one side and
public education. tiny compared with the roughly rolling surf on the other. Each day
“I tell my kids that mommy 250,000 “prevents,” or rescues she reports in uniform — officers
Real lifeguards rarely look like those on Baywatch.

Sergeant Casey Owens scans the surf
for signs of trouble, while Sergeant
Katherine Jackson keeps watch over a
deceptively tranquil beach.

Lifeguards maintain their equipment with considerable
care. They must be ready to respond to an emergency
at any moment. Opposite page: The mundane side of
the job: record-keeping and logistical coordination.
wear blue police-style uniforms allowed to operate PWCs on the team, which sped to New Orleans,
or official tee shirts with swim job. Such training is part of an Louisiana, to help people caught in
shorts — to the main lifeguard overall program that encompasses Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
tower for one of her 10-hour shifts. far more than just swimming skills. Lifeguards in southern
The three-story permanent tower “There’s a lot of training,” California start as seasonal
houses a garage, a first-aid room, Owens said. “And it doesn’t end employees, working the summer’s
staff lockers, and storage on the after you get the job. From the time peak season, then returning to
first floor; offices on the second; you get hired, you have medical regular jobs the rest of the year.
and an enclosed observation deck training, first aid, and CPR. There’s Many are teachers, college students,
on the third floor, from which a the lifeguard training academy. or emergency medical technicians
guard armed with binoculars can Then you start working at the bay in the winter, while they continue
watch the beach for more than first, while you continue more to hone their skills. It can take
a mile. training to get ready for the ocean.” many years to win a year-round
After opening the tower, Training to be an ocean job on San Diego’s permanent staff
setting up safe driving lanes on lifeguard is only the start for many of roughly 70 guards, and non-
the beach for emergency vehicles, beach lifeguards, who often also lifeguards may not understand the
and checking equipment for safety, train to be on special teams that rigors of the job.
Jackson and her team drag out rappel down rocks to make rescues “My parents still ask, what do
the personal watercraft (PWC) on ocean-side cliffs, don scuba you do in the off-season?” Jackson
used for rescues, pulling it to gear for underwater search-and- laughs. “I’ve been a lifeguard for 11
water’s edge for launching. All rescue, hoist fire hoses for marine years. And my friends, they don’t
lifeguards undergo training and firefighting, or navigate rushing understand what I do all day.”
pass certification before they are floodwaters on the flood-rescue What they do all day is prevent

accidents through watching, a skill enough, right by these kids I could ‘where are the restrooms?’ to ‘my
that’s finely honed in this job. see tiny fingers poking up above friend’s hurt’ and that becomes a
“We’re people watchers,” the water, reaching. I grabbed the medical call. We’re ambassadors of
Owens said. “You watch little kids kid and pulled out a little boy. He the beach, of the community, of the
getting in the ocean for the first was fine, coughing and gasping, he ocean, and the ocean ecosystem.”
time. You can tell when people hadn’t been down long. But no one
have never been to the ocean, and saw him. No one.”
they’re about to dive headfirst into In addition to rescues and
shallow water, so you go talk to accident prevention, lifeguards Valerie Due writes about topics
them first, prevent the injury. You deal with everything from stingray ranging from farm economics to
learn a lot about people by how stings to lost children to enforcing ocean lifeguarding. Her work has
they behave and what they do.” smoking and alcohol bans (San appeared in publications as varied
Sometimes, even watching isn’t Diego lifeguards are peace officers, as Forbes magazine, health care
enough — it takes a sixth sense with the power to ticket and arrest journals, and nonfiction literary
for danger. lawbreakers). journals like River Teeth.
“My first summer on the bay, And there’s paperwork. Owens
I’m watching probably 100 people looks at an open binder on his
in the water,” Jackson said. “It’s desk, flipping pages. “I’m doing
not like the ocean where you can payroll today; I’ve got 37 people to
see people wade out on a gradual manage.” He shrugs. “More people
edge, and you can tell they can’t means more paperwork.”
swim from the way they react to In his office overlooking the
the waves, so you warn them back ocean, paperwork seems like a fair
before anything happens. If people trade-off. Owens laughs. “This
can’t swim in the bay, they’re is a great job.” Owens still seems
teetering along and then they step amazed by the discovery of a
off that edge and just disappear, profession that offers a prime work
and are drowning.” location, good pay, the chance to
Jackson pauses. “I’m watching help others, and the excitement of
a bunch of kids, and everyone’s an emergency rescue.
fine. I look back, and no one is “Every day, we help people. We
reacting as though there’s trouble. interact with people from around
But I had a creepy feeling, so I the world every single day, and it’s
ran down with my fins, and sure fun. People ask us everything from

Unforgiven
“GUN SLINGERS OF THE OLD WEST”
Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman play bad boys on horseback.
U
nforgiven is a film about some horses. The prostitutes were the trigger. The kid shoots the sec-
the Old West, a part of outraged and demanded justice. ond. Things then go terribly wrong.
American life that van- They offered $1,000 of their own The sheriff captures Lawson, beats
ished more than a century ago but money to anybody who would kill him to death, and displays his
that still has a grip on popular imag- the attackers. body in front of the saloon. Munny
ination. Clint Eastwood, who pro- Munny at first refuses to seek goes to Big Whiskey to avenge his
duced and directed the film, also the bounty. “I ain’t like that any friend, killing five men, including
stars as William Munny, “a known more,” he tells the Schofield Kid, a the saloon keeper and sheriff.
thief and murderer” who has given young gunslinger who admires his Vengeance and money provide
up his life of violence to become a reputation for killing and propos- no satisfaction. The Kid, who killed
hog farmer in Kansas. But in 1881, es that they team up and split the for the first time, finds murder isn’t
he straps on his gun one more time reward. Munny changes his mind, so glamorous after all. “I guess he
and makes an unsettling journey however, because of the bounty. A had it comin’,” the kid says as he
back into his past. widower with two young children, swigs whiskey and tries to overcome
Munny leaves his farm to col- he hopes for a better life. He per- his feelings of guilt. “We all have it
lect a bounty in Big Whiskey, Wyo- suades another aging, former out- comin’,” Munny grimly replies.
ming, where two cowboys used a law, Ned Lawson, played by Morgan At the end of the film, Munny
knife to slash a prostitute, leaving Freeman, to join him and the Kid. leaves his farm and goes off to San
her face horribly scarred. The lo- The three bounty hunters track Francisco to work in dry goods.
cal sheriff ordered the cowboys down the two cowboys. Munny kills The Old West becomes an even
to compensate the saloon keeper the first after Lawson discovers more distant part of his past.
who ran the brothel by giving him that he can’t bring himself to pull — CHESTER PACH

MODERN-DAY COWBOY
BY CANDY MOULTON
Professional cowboy Duane Wood’s
I
responsibilities include driving cattle
t is cold in Wyoming and the cattle into corrals, sorting
on the ranch as well as running
the first snow of the season them, and separating the calves statistics back at the office.
has already blanketed the from the cows.
ground white, even though it is But during these waning
only mid-September. This is the days of summer, Wood, slim,
time of year cowboy Duane Wood quiet in manner, and with a neat West, today’s cowboy just as likely
likes best, the period when he mustache, also is getting ready works in an all-terrain vehicle or
moves cattle to pastures near the for winter. He repairs fences and a pickup truck, as from the back
ranch headquarters so they will corrals and positions hay for easier of a horse.
be easier to feed and find when winter feeding. He also cuts and In the 1800s, most cowboys
the real storms of winter blanket hauls firewood to heat his were young men who helped
the countryside. As the days grow family’s home. gather cattle on southern ranges,
shorter, his work pace slows ever It is tough to define “cowboy” mainly in Texas, and then drove
so slightly. Before long, with other today. Once understood to be a them along where the cattle
ranch workers, he will be pushing man on horseback in the American could roam, eat, and grow fat for

eventual sale. The conventional moving cattle to be certain they dog is an effective assistant for
image of the cowboy was one of a have plenty to eat and of otherwise his work. Wood trains his own
young man driving hundreds or caring for the herds. The ranch horses for the work, and he has
thousands of head of cattle over where Duane Wood works also a dog, Rosie, who helps with the
the land, crossing rivers, eventually conducts research to improve the tasks and is a companion when
selling the herd, and then spending cattle breed. That means Wood he is working alone, as is often
his pay in rail towns like Dodge spends a certain portion of his the case.
City or Abilene, Kansas, or time tracking cattle statistics such “My relationship with my
Ogallalla, Nebraska. as birth and weaning weights. The horse is not unlike my relationship
Over time, more people office work punctuates the physical with my wife,” Wood says. “We
moved into the range areas. labor of ranching. depend on each other. He takes
Some of the range was fenced, Besides his computer, two of care of me; I take care of him.”
and the size of many ranching a contemporary cowboy’s most A cowboy’s work changes
operations diminished. Others important tools are his horse and with the seasons. In the fall,
have remained sufficiently large his dog. The horse is his means Wood gathers the cows and calves,
as to accommodate thousands of of transportation to gather cattle, then separates them (weaning
head of cattle. On those ranches, especially in areas where the the calves from their mothers) so
cowboys maintain the tradition of country is rough and rugged; the the calves can be sold and shipped
Playing cowboys is big business in Hollywood.

Wood’s days are
as varied as the
landscape. He is
as likely to mount
a pickup truck as
a horse, and he
spends most of his
workday solo.

to feeders who will continue
to raise them for another year
until they are eventually sold for
slaughter. Most ranches keep some
of the heifer (female) calves for
eventual breeding to replenish the
herd. Others, like the ranch where
Wood works, will keep young bull
calves, raising and selling them
in the spring when other ranchers
need to buy bulls for breeding in
their own herds.
During the winter, Wood
keeps the cattle close to the home
ranch so as snow piles up it will be
easier to feed them hay. No matter
the weather, the cattle must be fed
every day, and that is the main
work on a ranch until calving
operations begin in the late winter
or early spring.
When Duane Wood sets out
on a winter day or night to check
cattle as a Wyoming snowstorm
blows across the mountain
country, he wears several layers
of clothes: insulated underwear,
heavy wool shirt, wool vest,
heavy overcoat, jeans, and wool
socks inside his insulated boots.
His gloves are warm, sometimes
made of a waterproof material
so if he must clear the ice from a
water tank, he can put his hand
in, remove the ice, and never get
his fingers wet. If a blizzard is
howling outside and Wood has
cattle to care for, he knows his
job. “We just do it. We may dread
going out the door, but we just do
it,” he said.
For calving, Wood moves
the cows to a pasture not far
from the ranch headquarters Ranch hands come in all sizes: Wood’s eight-year-old daughter, Cora,
regularly helps out her dad.
where there are trees and other
natural protection. This is a hard

part of the yearly work. Using without chaps. In winter they “I don’t do the same thing
a pickup, all-terrain vehicle, or often wear a wool “scotch” cap every day,” Wood says. “My
horse, Wood regularly — day and with warm ear flaps and insulated association with other people is
night — moves through the herd, overalls for warmth. very limited. Most of the time I’m
checking on the calves, doctoring Cowboys come in all shapes, not around a lot of people, and I
one with a shot of medicine if it sizes, and ages and are both male don’t mind that. Matter of fact, I
is ill, and making sure new calves and female (ranch women who get along a lot better with animals
are paired with their mothers. work with cattle often also are than people.”
During calving, sleep comes in called cowboys). They might be
short snatches, as the herd must be 18 or 38, or in some cases they
evaluated every couple of hours. might be eight, as is Wood’s
A cowboy is always aware of daughter, Cora. This young girl Candy Moulton is a rancher’s
the livestock. “Ultimately we are has been riding and helping her daughter and rancher’s wife, who
in animal husbandry,” Wood says. dad move cattle since she was also began cowboy work when she
“They depend on us and we’ve three. As a tot she rode Chester, a was five years old. She makes her
got to be there to help them.” That Shetland pony, and Wood used a home near Encampment, Wyoming,
can mean moving stock from an long lead rope to guide the pony and is the author of a dozen books,
area where water or grass is no as they rode. Eventually Cora including Steamboat: Legendary
longer available or assisting a cow took the reins herself, and now Bucking Horse and Hot Biscuits:
giving birth. she rides a quarter horse just like Stories by Ranch Women and
Spring work involves calving, her dad. (Chester has become Cowboys.
branding the calves to establish the mount of her little brother,
clear ownership, fixing fences, Bonner, who is now five and, like
and preparing to move cattle Cora, began riding alone at age
out to summer range. During three). Sometimes wife Laurie also
the summer the cattle are on helps move cattle. As is usually
rangeland farther from the ranch the case on ranches, Laurie and
headquarters, eating the natural the children may do the work of
grass and forage. At this time of cowboys, but they don’t receive
year, Wood becomes a hayfield a paycheck.
worker, cutting and baling hay “What keeps me in this life
then stacking it in locations where is the outdoors and the cattle,”
it will be available as winter feed. Wood said. The opportunity to
The image of a cowboy decked “get my kids on horseback once in
out in cowboy hat, chaps (leather a while” is also a strong attraction
leggings they place over their pants because he wants to pass on
for protection against weather or cowboy traditions. Then there is
brush), boots, and spurs that jingle the satisfaction of riding his horse
when they walk is accurate to a across good rangeland, where the
degree; all cowboys wear that outfit grass is abundant and nutritious,
some of the time and Wood does, or through a swiftly flowing creek
too. But today’s cowboys are just or river, knowing it provides good
as likely to have on a short-billed water for the animals.
baseball cap (it usually advertises
some type of livestock feed, ropes,
or perhaps fertilizer) and jeans

CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION“SCIENCE MAKES CATCHING BAD GUYS EASY”
Just give us some DNA — we’ll figure out the rest.
P
olice officers call them “the evidence from a crime scene is too In CSI the police almost seem
geek squad,” but the foren- small to ignore. In one case, a toe- irrelevant. They have little to do
sics experts in the Las Ve- nail clipping proved that someone other than arrest the suspects that
gas Criminalistics Bureau are the who claimed that he had killed a the forensics experts implicate.
heroes on the television program man in self-defense was guilty of The show leaves the impression
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. murder. In another, dirt stains and that analysis of DNA samples and
They crack the toughest criminal carpet fibers implicated the killer. hair follicles, rather than the tes-
cases by using microscopes or Gathering the evidence and in- timony of witnesses, solves every
computers to evaluate each frag- terpreting the clues can lead the crime and that the most important
ment of evidence and carefully investigators on a fascinating jour- police work occurs in the labora-
piece together the clues. View- ney of discovery. In an episode tory or the morgue. Sometimes,
ers enjoy their high-tech gadgetry called “Rashomama,” a reference though, even the smartest “geeks”
and quirky intelligence. Since its to the famous Japanese movie and the most sophisticated sci-
premiere in 2000, CSI has been a Rashomon, about multiple per- ence can’t solve the crime — in real
smash hit, often topping the televi- spectives on the same event, each life, if not on television. In those
sion ratings. It’s so popular that it member of the forensics team cases, only a police officer can add
has led to the creation of two ad- recounts his or her investigation up the clues and catch the culprit.
ditional CSI programs, one set in of the murder of the mother of a — CHESTER PACH
New York, the other in Miami. groom at his wedding. Each story
The CSI investigators concen- takes the CSI team one step closer
trate on evidence, which, unlike to the identity of the killers — they
witnesses, can never lie. No bit of turned out to be two bridesmaids.

ALL’S QUIET ON THE
SMALL-TOWN FRONT
BY BRIAN HEYMAN
Chief Richard Guisti scopes out
T
the neighborhood from his
he summer sun is shining at a computer in his dark blue
patrol car.
brightly over the one-story uniform, working on an e-mail,
brick police station on taking care of the administrative
Route 188 that runs through the end of his job. The computer
not-so-wild western Connecticut desk is filled with pictures of his
town of Middlebury. Head further wife and his two sons, now in former greats playing baseball for
down and you might not even their twenties. His diplomas and his beloved New York Yankees.
realize you just drove through training certificates hang on the On the desk behind Guisti, there’s
the heart of this tree-lined, wall above. On the opposite wall, a Yankees cap sitting on one side
18.5-square-mile (48.1-square- there are framed pictures on both and on the other is a figurine of a
kilometer) middle-class sides of a bookcase, showing one policeman with a protective arm
community. It’s about one o’clock son playing high school football, around a girl — with an angel
back at the station, and in a side the other competing in swimming. guarding his back.
office with the word “Chief” on Above the bookcase, there’s a The police chief is a down-to-
the door, Richard Guisti is sitting frame surrounding four photos of earth, 48-year-old family man.

Guisti coaches youth football municipalities across the country. lockouts. Still the small-time
and high school basketball in his “TV, I know you see the chases; community policing.”
native Waterbury nearby and has you see the bank robberies; you Guisti was promoted to
been a fixture in the Middlebury see the shootouts,” Guisti said. acting police chief in 2005 and
community since moving here “We do a lot of community calls permanent chief in 2008. He began
25 years ago. It’s a town of a little for services. Being a smaller in Middlebury as a part-time
more than 7,000 people, where the town, we have two major arteries police officer in 1985, left for
violent crime rate is very low. that come through our town. another nearby department in
Television and movies often So we do a lot of motor-vehicle 1987, and came back full time two
depict police work as an endless accidents, a lot of motor-vehicle years later. He has been in two,
series of car chases and exchanges enforcement, because we get a lot maybe three car chases here, none
of gunfire. But those images don’t of traffic. We’re first responders in almost 20 years. And about
match the reality here for Guisti for medical calls. ... We still carry the gun that sits in the holster
in this small town and so many the equipment to get into vehicle on his right hip? “We draw our
Armed and imaginative: No shred of

evidence is too small for the CSI team.

Chief Richard
Guisti mostly
hands out
speeding tickets
and responds to
vehicle lock-outs.
He has never
fired his weapon
on duty.

Report-writing is a huge part of a
weapons at robberies,” Guisti said. from budgets, to training, to police officer’s job.
“But I’ve never had to actually fire scheduling, to discipline,” Guisti
my service weapon.” said. “I’m also in charge of
Now he is in more of a communications. We dispatch leave this office. They could be tied
supervisory role, overseeing 14 fire, police, and public works. I’m up on a call, and I would have to go
officers and eight dispatchers. Yet the direct supervisor. You have out. I’ve investigated car accidents.
the chief will also head to a scene to multitask. I’m not saying I’m I respond to burglar alarms. If
when needed. “I have responsibility Superman or better than any other my lieutenant is not working, no
for the overall operation of the chief. It’s just that you’re so small, matter what time it is, if we have a
Middlebury Police Department, if my guys are tied up, I take calls. I burglary or smash [a car window]

and grab, I may have to go out and late mom, Ellen, had a real estate program known as DARE: Drug
supervise until I can get somebody business with her sister. But Abuse Resistance Education. “It’s
to come in.” Richard loved sports from the gratifying to see the kids that you
When he or his officers time he was five and wanted to taught are now grown up and they
investigate further, Guisti said be a professional baseball player. have children,” Guisti said. “I see
they use “the phone, e-mails, Then, at about age 14, he was children that are now doctors,
computers. When I came on in playing in a summer-league game dentists, police officers, teachers.
’85 ... you didn’t have e-mails, you in Waterbury when a policeman Several of them, I’ve been to their
didn’t have cell phones, you may spoke to him. “If you’re not going weddings. That’s what I tell my
have had a computer. These officers to play professional baseball, officers. If you can influence one
right now can get in their cars, why don’t you become a cop?” person, you did your job.”
and if they have a burglary, they the officer said to Guisti. “I said,
can type it into their computer ‘Yeah.’ You laugh at it,” Guisti
and send it to just about every said. “He goes, ‘Be a cop. Be like
department in the state [to check] me. You’ll like being involved with Brian Heyman has been a
if they had a suspect or anything people.’” sportswriter in the New York area for
similar. ... You’d be surprised by It led him to a career that 27 years, earning numerous national
the amount of information that began in 1982 with work as and regional journalism awards. He
comes back, saying, ‘We had a sheriff at the Waterbury is a staff writer for the Journal News,
something similar,’ or the exact courthouse, where he learned a lot a Gannett daily newspaper based
same description of the car, the about law enforcement. Now Guisti in White Plains, New York, and he
suspects.” These officers also go out can look back with a sense of pride. freelances for the New York Times
and use their training to interview There have been crimes he helped and the Associated Press.
people. Or they stake out areas. solve, like the time when an elderly
“Technology has gone a long way person experienced a burglary
to help law enforcement, but you of items with much sentimental
still pound the beat,” Guisti said. value. Nearly all were recovered.
Unlike on TV, it can take “That was gratifying because you
considerable time to solve a crime. knew that … they were going to be
“In CSI, they solve everything in victimized themselves every day
eight hours; that’s not realistic,” because of that reminder of what
said Sergeant John Desmarais, a they had in their house that was
15-year veteran of the Middlebury there for years,” Guisti said, adding
force who coaches football with that it was solved “just through
Guisti. “I would say our percentage legwork, information through
of solves ranges from 60 to 70 other departments, information
percent, which is very high. ... We that we ascertained through our
know our community. We know department.”
who to talk to. For example, on Beyond that, he hopes he
the midnight shift, the paper boy made a difference in a role you
[person who delivers newspapers] don’t usually see on police shows,
sees everything.” steering young people on the
Back when he was a boy, right path through the work he
Guisti’s goal wasn’t to protect did for eight years in the local
and serve the public. His father, school system. He taught about
Fred, was a toolmaker, and his the dangers of drugs through the

Pulp Fiction
“SHOOT FIRST. ASK QUESTIONS LATER.”
Jules (Samuel L. Jackson) and Vincent (John Travolta) are addicted to violence.
P
ulp Fiction is one of the found the sordid world of the film, vehicle hits a bump. With the help
most acclaimed, influential, teeming with gangsters and drug of Winston Wolf (Harvey Keitel), a
and controversial movies addicts, depressing and even dis- “fixer” who deals with such crimi-
of recent years. Only the second gusting. But the single issue that nal complications, they scrub away
feature film from director Quentin produced the strongest criticism, the blood and the brains from the
Tarantino, Pulp Fiction premiered as Tarantino explained in an inter- car almost as if they were cleaning
in 1994 at the Cannes Film Festival view, was “violence, violence, vio- up after a food fight. Winston even
and won the coveted Palme d’Or, lence, violence, violence.” arrives in a tuxedo and takes time
the festival’s highest prize. It also The film begins and ends with for coffee as he supervises the dis-
earned Tarantino an Academy a man and woman who casually posal of the body.
Award for best original screen- decide over breakfast at a restau- “Nothing is predictable or fa-
play, as well as honors for best rant to draw their guns, empty the miliar within this irresistibly bizarre
director and best film from the Na- cash register, and rob the other pa- world,” wrote New York Times film
tional Board of Review. Tarantino’s trons. The two main characters in critic Janet Maslin. “You don’t
dark humor and distinctive narra- the film — Vincent, played by John merely enter a theater to see Pulp
tive style spawned many imita- Travolta, and Jules, played by Sam- Fiction,” she explained. Instead,
tors. Time magazine critic Richard uel L. Jackson — are hit men who like Alice in Wonderland, “You go
Corliss called Pulp Fiction “the carry on bizarre conversations be- down a rabbit hole.”
most influential American film” of fore blowing away their victims. In — CHESTER PACH
the 1990s. one instance, Vincent accidentally
Other reviewers, however, kills a man in the back seat of a car
were not so enthusiastic. Some when the gun discharges after the

SAFETY AND SECURITY:
TWIN PRIORITIES
BY MEGAN A. WONG
Malcolm Blundell meticulously
T
cleans his prize pistol — after double-
he cupcake-yellow home surrounding homes are inhabited checking that it is not loaded.
of Malcolm and Jacque by white-collar professionals:
Blundell is festively lawyers, lobbyists, and high-tech
decorated for fall. Homegrown workers. The light is golden and
pumpkins line the front steps the weather mild for mid-autumn.
and a string of orange and black The Blundells do not exactly fit The first time Blundell held a
cardboard letters wish “Happy the image of violent, gun-wielding gun was at a Boy Scout camp in
Halloween” to passersby. The thugs. Jacque (pronounced Hawaii, where he spent part of his
Blundells relax on a wicker couch “Jackie”) is a longtime volunteer childhood. He was 12 years old
on the porch with their small black with the local animal welfare and was vying for a merit badge in
dog, Charlotte Sophia, at their feet. league, an organization for which rifle shooting. Blundell still recalls
From this vantage point, one sees she has fostered kittens in the the thrill of shooting a gun for the
couples pushing strollers down the past. Blundell works as a manager first time. That was the moment
street and clusters of neighborhood at a local software development when his lifelong fascination with
children exiting a school bus. The company. firearms began.

After attending college on a People have different also people like myself — a lot of
Reserve Officers’ Training Corps motivations for owning guns, us — who own guns for sport or
(ROTC) scholarship, Blundell he explains. Some are hunters competition or self-defense.”
completed his obligatory military who use shotguns to shoot game. There are specific times and
service with the U.S. Marine Corps Others, like Blundell and his conditions in which Blundell
over the next five years. When he friends, are hobbyists who shoot feels it is appropriate to discharge
got out of the Marines, he took a for sport in weekend competitions firearms — and plenty of occasions
15-year hiatus from firearms while held at shooting ranges and gun when it would not be responsible
he concentrated on building his clubs. At these venues, safety to do so. In the United States, gun
career in high tech. It was not until precautions are constantly drilled laws vary widely from state to state
2004, by then fully ensconced in a into participants. “There are (sometimes even region to region
career as a software developer, that people who belong to street gangs within a state). Some states enforce
Blundell once again picked up his and there are criminals who have strict regulations on firearms
hobby as a sport shooter. guns,” says Blundell. “There are (such as licensing, registration, or
Don’t mess with the gangsters in Pulp Fiction.

Malcolm Blundell and his wife,
Jacque, are vigilant about storing
their guns in a locked safe when
not in use.

Above: The Blundells on their
front porch playing with their dog,
Charlotte Sophia. Right: Blundell is
careful never to handle a loaded gun
unless he intends to shoot it.
permits), while other states take

a more “hands-off” approach to
gun possession. Virginia, the state
in which the Blundells live, has
severe restrictions on brandishing
firearms in residential areas. But
the Blundells have friends who live
in a rural part of the same state
where the local attitude toward and on one section they have built the property. The absence of
firearms is very different than a firing range. Their sprawling bystanders there makes it unlikely
that held by many city dwellers rural oasis is one place where the that someone could accidentally
and suburbanites. These friends Blundells feel it is acceptable to get hurt by a stray bullet.
of the Blundells own 60 acres (24 discharge firearms in a controlled “It’s just part of the culture,”
hectares) of forested private land, capacity because of the size of says Blundell, referring to the

permissive attitude toward gun the habit of a lifetime. And I can show too many rounds being fired
ownership in some rural areas. attest that having those habits will without reloading and scenes in
Still, he observes, “There is no hold you in very good stead.” which novice gun users somehow
more or less violence there than Above and beyond their hit their target with no practice
any place else.” Blundell believes personal code of safety when and no kickback.
that it is possible to possess and handling guns, the couple “I hope people realize that
use firearms in a safe manner requested a voluntary home movies were designed to be
provided that owners are educated review from the police when entertainment,” says Blundell.
properly and behave responsibly. Blundell rekindled his interest “There’s a certain amount of shock
While the Blundells support in sport shooting five years ago, value. They’re trying to show you
freedom to possess and use to make certain that they were what they think will keep you
firearms responsibly, they take taking every precaution in storing entertained for two hours. It’s not
guns seriously. “You don’t play their firearms. necessarily American life.”
with them,” declares Blundell. Blundell believes deeply in
“I’m either cleaning them or personal freedom tempered by
I’m shooting them or they’re in personal responsibility. He has no
the safe.” tolerance for those who handle Megan A. Wong is a writer and
This is more than just guns irresponsibly or with the editor in the Bureau of International
responsible talk. At this author’s intent to commit criminal acts. Information Programs of the U.S.
request, Blundell retrieves a “When I hear about people doing Department of State.
pistol from his 1,000-pound irresponsible things with firearms,
(450-kilogram), refrigerator- I’m irritated because it makes it
sized black safe. He immediately more difficult for the rest of us,”
opens the magazine and hands says Blundell. “It makes things
it — muzzle down — to his wife, harder for the vast majority of
uttering just one word: “Clear.” firearm owners who behave
It is both a question and a responsibly.”
request. Jacque checks the pistol Respect is the unmistakable
to make sure it is not loaded. To theme in any conversation with
non-gun owners, this may seem the Blundells about firearms. “The
like an unnecessary step. But to penalties are very severe if you use
the Blundells, safety is standard a firearm in a crime of violence,”
operating procedure. “It’s very says Blundell. “You are allowed to
important to make sure it’s defend your life. But this is not the
unloaded before I start handling Wild, Wild West.”
it,” says Blundell. “It’s just a At the mention of cinema,
precaution.” Blundell starts in on another
Even if one thinks a firearm pet peeve of his: the laughable
is unloaded, it still deserves the portrayal of firearms in films.
utmost respect, repeats Blundell Movies frequently have “nothing
on several occasions. “You don’t to do with reality,” he chuckles.
point the muzzle of any firearm, “What I see is what’s technically
loaded or unloaded, at anything or wrong. They’re movies; they’re
anybody that you’re not willing to fiction. What they show you
destroy,” he says. “One takes great is impossible.” He cites the
care with handling firearms. It’s mismatched sound effects that

Grey’s Anatomy
“FLIRTING WITH MEDICINE”
We’re too sexy for these scrubs.
T
reating severe illness, ex- a close relationship with a woman former lover, Dr. Mark Sloan. The
treme trauma, or a difficult he was treating for injuries and interns are also close; George
medical condition is all in amnesia after a ferry accident and O’Malley, Izzie, and Meredith lived
a day’s work for the physicians at eventually slept with her. Izzie, an together. George slept with both
Seattle Grace Hospital. A heart intern, became engaged to Denny and had an extended relationship
transplant or brain surgery is a Duquette, a cardiac patient who with Izzie, even while he was mar-
routine task for Preston Burke or was awaiting a heart transplant. ried to Callie Torres, an orthope-
Derek Shepherd, two of the most The doctors on Grey’s Anato- dic surgeon with whom he worked.
accomplished surgeons on the my spend much of their time tak- The complexities of these tangled
television program Grey’s Anato- ing care of each other. The chief relationships often seem to con-
my. More challenging was saving of surgery, Dr. Richard Webber, sume as much time as diagnosing
the life of a man who suffered a has a special interest in an intern, illnesses or performing surgeries.
heart attack during sex and had to Meredith Grey, who has had a long With all these personal and pro-
be “separated” from his lover. Then and complex relationship with fessional challenges, there’s never
there was the case of a student Derek. Coincidentally, Dr. Web- a routine day for the physicians on
who became encased in concrete ber had a similar relationship with Grey’s Anatomy.
while trying to impress a friend at Meredith’s mother, who was a re- — CHESTER PACH
a building site. nowned physician. Derek’s wife,
The physicians on Grey’s Anat- Addison, also a doctor, had been
omy care deeply about their pa- living in New York but joined the
tients. Dr. Alex Karev developed staff at Seattle Grace, as did her

A PASSION TO SERVE
BY MEGAN A. WONG
Dr. M. Natalie Achong is committed
M
to helping the needy both on the job
. Natalie Achong, Achong’s early experiences and in her community.
M.D., grew up in the greatly influenced the person
working-class New York she is today. At her elementary
City boroughs of Queens and school — where both the students
Brooklyn, where her neighbors and teachers, including the her eventual decision to become
were predominantly other African- principal, were African American a physician. Achong developed
American families. While she was — young Natalie was educated into a woman with a strong sense
by no means raised in the lap of about the historical struggles and of her ethnic and cultural identity
luxury, the 41-year-old mother of notable contributions of African as an African American and is
two likes to focus on the blessings Americans within the fabric of determined to affect the world in
and privileges that she has enjoyed the American experience. These creative and meaningful ways:
in her life: caring, attentive parents important lessons instilled in her both inside and outside of
and a close-knit community that a sense of civic responsibility and the hospital.
instilled in her a sense of ethnic a desire to contribute positively to From a young age, Achong
pride and civic responsibility. society as a whole, culminating in and her two younger siblings were

Grey’s Anatomy doctors are more
expected to succeed, regardless Davis School of Biomedical interested in each other’s anatomy
of circumstances. Their father, Education at the City University than their patients’. Opposite page:
Dr. M. Natalie Achong is dedicated
an immigrant from Trinidad, of New York (CUNY), a program
to serving low-income and minority
was a major role model. He never that would enable her to become
clients.
missed a day of work in his life a doctor by age 22 — the age
and used to tell his children that when most of her peers were just
his job was to go to work every finishing college.
day and that their job was to do During her medical training, experience convinced her that she
the very best they could in school. Achong further solidified her could make a real difference
True to her parents’ urging, young commitment to social justice in the lives of young women by
Natalie Achong excelled in the and public service. Although specializing in obstetrics and
New York public school system. she had never before lived away gynecology upon returning
After graduating from high school, from home, the then-20-year-old to New York to complete
she was accepted to all of the Ivy medical student initiated a project medical school.
League universities to which she that took her to the Deep South Her experience in the South
had applied but instead opted to to work with teen mothers at a during the 1980s also illustrated
enroll in a prestigious, accelerated community health clinic in the the disparities present in modern
B.S./M.D. program at the Sophie Mississippi Delta. This profound medicine. Determined to reduce


these inequities, she declined sponsored community service, not just about making money, as a
offers to join private medical and actively supporting the arts, physician. It’s also about doing my
practices that might have afforded youth services, and international best to support my family and also
her a more lucrative lifestyle. affairs through involvement in give back to the community.”
Instead, Achong chooses to serve an organization called Links, Achong’s many obligations
in hospitals that treat a broad comprised of female African- require a great deal of energy,
spectrum of needy patients. She American professionals. “I feel time management, and, above
also volunteers in many extra that there’s a higher calling in all, personal commitment.
clinical activities, including working and imparting the best, She rises daily at 5:00 a.m. for
acting as “camp doctor” for her excellent and valued medicine to morning prayer and meditation
children’s summer camp, taking those who maybe can’t afford the before diving into the many
a leadership role in church- ‘good doctors,’” Achong says. “It’s activities that characterize her
There is more to being a doctor than treating

patients: Above, Achong steals a few moments
to update a patient’s chart. Achong’s colleagues
are personable and professional.

days. Needless to say, Achong’s where they set up free medical are mothers and physicians, even
life extends beyond the hospital. clinics for local residents. with all their so-called titles and
One of her greatest joys is her Achong meditates daily but education, they’re still the ones
family. In addition to raising two admits that finding time for that tend to the sick and the home,
children, which means everything self-care is a constant dilemma more often than not.”
from getting them to school on for many doctors. “Doctors may
time to helping them with their not always have the time they
homework, Achong takes an would like to devote to keeping
active role in their extracurricular themselves fit, in balance, and Megan A. Wong is a writer and
activities as well. “I have the work eating well. It’s really challenging editor in the Bureau of International
that I do at the hospital and I have to do that when you’re being Information Programs of the U.S.
the work that I do at home,” she pulled in so many directions,” Department of State.
says, emphasizing that “the work says Achong. She humorously
at home is as pressing, important, adds a self-deprecating reference
and demanding physically as to the television medical dramas
anything I do in the hospital. that feature physically stunning
Doctors lead lives that are physicians who look flawless at any
complicated and pressured. And hour of the day or night: “Most
as a mother raising kids, it really is doctors don’t look like that,”
a juggling act.” she laughs.
Aside from a hectic schedule Beyond volunteerism and
that includes commuting between church-sponsored activities,
her home and the various hospitals Achong regularly lectures to
and clinics in which she works, medical providers (community
Achong maintains a full agenda clinic staff, medical students,
of professional and community nurses, physicians) about topics
service commitments as well. In ranging from cultural awareness
addition to working full time as to how better to meet the needs of
both an assistant clinical professor underserved communities. “There
in the Department of Obstetrics is still a lot that needs to be said
and Gynecology at the Yale School … on issues of ethnicity because it
of Medicine and as an attending does make a difference. I certainly
physician at St. Vincent’s Medical see that in terms of heath care
Center, she spends more than when it comes to women’s health,”
half her spare time on nonclinical Achong says. This belief is at the
duties. She volunteers at a local core of her devotion to women’s
health clinic, participates in health, both locally and globally.
church-sponsored activities, takes “More often than not, women are
a leadership role in the National the ones who decide health-care
Medical Association, publishes issues in a given family. They’re
original research in peer-reviewed the ones who take the kids to the
medical journals, and volunteers doctor, they’re the ones who take
with overseas medical missions. care of the sick children, they
These missions take Achong and make the appointment, they’re the
her colleagues to places like the ones that drive all that,” Achong
Dominican Republic and Ghana, says. “Even for my colleagues who

Gossip Girl
“BUSY SPREADING LIES”
Chatty, catty, and rich: We’ll dig up your dirt and tell the whole school.
G
“ ossip Girl here — your one main a secret. Serena had sex with Some adults Blair knew must
and only source into the Blair’s boyfriend, Nate Archibald. have reassured her. Nate’s father,
scandalous lives of Man- And to make matters worse, Nate a cocaine addict, fled the country
hattan’s elite. And who am I? That’s had never slept with Blair. to avoid arrest. Catherine Mason
one secret I’ll never tell.” Gossip Girl just loves a “cat- Beaton, the stepmother of Blair’s
Nobody knows her identity, fight” between “hotties,” and Blair new boyfriend, Marcus, had affairs
but everybody at the fictitious and Serena didn’t disappoint her. both with Blair’s old boyfriend,
Constance Billard School, the They became rivals in their snob- Nate, and with her own stepson.
oh-so-exclusive academy for girls by clique of privileged youth on “Do you ever feel like our whole
on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, the Upper East Side. Their nas- lives have been planned out for
devours Gossip Girl’s blogs and ty encounters occurred at lavish us?” Nate asks his friend Chuck.
text messages. They learned from parties, designer fashion shows, “That we’re just gonna end up like
Gossip Girl about “the biggest and even at the dean’s home at our parents?”
news ever” — the unexpected re- Yale University when they made “That’s a dark thought,” Chuck
turn of Serena van der Woodsen a campus visit. Eventually the two replies.
a year after she suddenly left New estranged friends reconciled, yet “You know you love me. XOXO.
York for boarding school in Con- they still schemed over sex and Gossip Girl.”
necticut. Serena’s departure came status. “I just need to know that in — CHESTER PACH
without warning; she didn’t even this misbegotten corner of Man-
tell her best friend, Blair Waldorf. hattan, wealth, ambition, and mor-
What happened on her last night al laxity are still alive and well,”
in New York, however, didn’t re- Blair declared.

HELPING FAMILY, FRIENDS,
AND HER COMMUNITY
BY MEGAN A. WONG
Kathy Conde (second from left) is
O
devoted to her parents and helps
n a summer afternoon Conde, who likes to be called contribute to the family’s welfare
in August, Katheryn Kathy, graduated in 2009 from by excelling in school and working
Conde’s California home an all-girls Catholic secondary part-time jobs.
is socked in with fog. Conde, school. Like most teens, she
18, lives with her parents in a enjoys hanging out with friends
working-class neighborhood of and playing with her dog, a Great
San Francisco. The homes here Dane named Tobby. She was Conde describes her friends
are modest: no mansions, no even on the cheerleading team as supportive of one another, not
swimming pools. In fact, many of during her sophomore year. But back-stabbing or competitive. They
the houses in the neighborhood Conde and her pals don’t shop often confide their problems to one
could use a new coat of paint. The for entertainment — their school another and rely on each other for
sage green Conde home is neat requires uniforms. For fun, advice, especially about boys. But
and well-kept, however, with three Conde’s friends mostly watch Conde’s romantic life is not filled
recycling bins responsibly placed DVDs at each other’s houses, and with dating drama. She does not
out front. no one in her group has a car. currently have a boyfriend, but

Left, top and bottom: Who’s hot and who’s not
— that’s what matters to these teens from the
television program Gossip Girl. Above: The carefree
lifestyle of TV’s most privileged, who are obsessed
with shopping.
she did attend her prom — with a don’t have to be a superstar or a Researching and Inspiring for
male friend from another school. nerd. You can be a little of both.” the Vitality of Education), and
Students at Conde’s school do like Conde’s real passion is organized a successful toy drive for
to have fun and throw parties, but community service, which underprivileged children. She was
she thinks that TV shows tend takes up virtually all her spare also elected to the student council
to exaggerate the social aspect time. During secondary school, and assisted voters as a poll worker
of American teenagers’ lives. “In Conde peer-tutored classmates, in the last four elections.
those shows, it seems like all the volunteered as a counselor at a Conde’s home life is typical of
girls are focused on the social part sleepaway camp for middle school her classmates, many of whom are
of their lives,” says Conde. “But students, founded a college/ also the children of immigrants.
in reality, I have to balance my scholarship awareness club called While she was born in the United
academics and my social life. You S.T.R.I.V.E. ( Scholarship Team States, Conde’s parents both

More than a pretty face: Conde
is an honor student committed to
community service and helping
the needy.

The Conde family takes their
immigrated from El Salvador in she would need to find a way to dog, Tobby, for a walk in the
hopes of a better life. Yet, on their help fund it. Raising awareness neighborhood. Kathy has shown
modest salaries (her mother is a about enrichment and scholarship resiliency and drive in the face of
housecleaner and her father works opportunities among her various challenges.
in the kitchen at a local hotel), school’s student body is what the
the Condes cannot afford to send S.T.R.I.V.E. club aims to do.
their two daughters to college Despite such challenges,
without financial assistance. Conde refuses to feel sorry for who have given her so much,
Conde knew that if she wanted to herself. She is driven by a desire including her parents, teachers,
attend her first-choice university, to succeed and give back to those and school. “All these people really

want me to do good. And I can’t let summer. But Conde is not one to The past suggests Conde will
them down. I want to go to college rest on her laurels. The summer do plenty with the opportunities
and actually have it all pay off at after graduating, she worked two she has been given.
the end,” says Conde. “There was jobs — totaling six days a week —
a point at which my dad had two to save money for college textbooks
jobs to pay for my school. [I want] in the fall. She interned at the San
to show them that I appreciate Francisco Superior Court and also Megan A. Wong is a writer and
what they’ve done for me.” worked as a program assistant at editor in the Bureau of International
Despite a challenging course a local real estate office. Conde Information Programs of the U.S.
load (including several honors won a number of scholarships — Department of State.
classes) and a heavy load of enough to pay her tuition at the
extracurricular activities, Conde University of San Francisco (a
maintained excellent grades private college and her first-choice
during all four years of secondary school). But Conde still lives at
school. She is bilingual, proficient home, which enables her to save
in Spanish and English, and fluent on rent and stay connected to her
in conversational French; and she community service activities.
took math as an elective during More than anything, the
her senior year — because she experience of Conde’s parents
liked it. In recognition of her high convinced her that, if given basic
academic achievement, Conde opportunities, most people can
was admitted to two prestigious make something of themselves
scholastic honor societies, the in the United States. “They came
California Scholarship Federation during the [Salvadoran civil] war,”
and the National Honor Society. says Conde. “They had to start
Her efforts have been over. Just to see that they came
recognized. Conde received here and were actually able to do
numerous awards and something … what’s stopping
scholarships, including several me? I’ll bet what they had to go
community service awards and the through was harder than what I
Spartan Award, the highest honor do.” Conde feels not only pride and
for a graduate of her school in inspiration from her parents’ story
recognition of superior academic but a responsibility to do well and
performance and demonstrated make their sacrifices worthwhile.
commitment to school and “What [money] they do make they
community. But public recognition have to spend on food, on clothes,
is not what drives her. “Doing and things that we need, so we
community service felt rewarding,” don’t have a lot of extra money,”
says Conde. “Just to know that it’s she says. “I want to get a good job
actually going to make a difference and a house and then help out my
in someone’s life.” parents because I feel like they’ve
One might imagine that done so much for me.”
maintaining such a demanding
schedule during the school year
would leave Conde exhausted
and ready to watch television all

Boston Legal “ATTORNEY ANTICS”
Barely legal: These lawyers are experts at bending the rules,

in both their professional and personal lives.
D
enny Crane and Alan rageous reasons. Claiming self- ciates in his firm and even with a
Shore are both high-pow- defense, Denny shot a client that judge who presided over some of
ered attorneys at Crane, the court assigned to him because his cases.
Poole, and Schmidt, the fictitious he didn’t want to defend someone Yet despite their incorrigi-
law firm on the television program who raped and murdered a teen- ble womanizing, Alan and Denny
Boston Legal. They are close but ager. Denny and Alan have even ended up together. Since Denny
improbable friends, since they ended up on the opposite sides of appeared to be suffering from
disagree on practically every con- politically charged cases. Alan was Alzheimer’s disease — what he usu-
troversial issue. Denny favors the the attorney for the plaintiff and ally insisted was Mad Cow Disease
death penalty; Alan opposes it. Denny was the counsel for the de- — he and Alan decided to marry
Alan has strong reservations about fense when the town of Concord so that Alan would have spousal
the war in Iraq; Denny brusquely tried to secede from the state of rights in managing Denny’s medical
told his friend, “You’re either with Massachusetts. care and finances. Supreme Court
us or against us.” Alan favors gun On one issue, however, Denny Justice Antonin Scalia performed
control; Denny considers any regu- and Alan agree: They both think the ceremony.
lation of firearms an infringement that they should be able to in- “We’re married,” Denny
of his constitutional rights. Denny dulge their “interests” in women. exclaimed.
keeps guns in his office and oc- Denny has propositioned clients “Can you believe it?” Alan
casionally brandishes one when and coworkers. He even has a life- replied.
talking to colleagues or clients. size, blow-up doll in the image of — CHESTER PACH
He is even willing to pull the trig- his fellow senior partner, Shirley
ger, sometimes for the most out- Schmidt. Alan has slept with asso-

ETHICAL ADVOCATE
BY KAREN HOFSTEIN
Most of Richard Beilin’s time is
T
spent at his desk pouring over client
he room is lined floor-to- did what they were supposed to files — not kicking up theatrics in a
ceiling with bookcases do, you wouldn’t need lawyers’ courtroom.
holding thick volumes because every single thing a lawyer
bound in hand-tooled leather, does is based on the premise that
bearing the titles American somebody isn’t going to do what
Jurisprudence, New Jersey Practice, they were supposed to do. That
and Uniform Commercial Codes. is why you have to write down state of New Jersey. The holder of
A long table in the center of the contracts. That’s why things end up a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers
conference room is surrounded in litigation. As society gets more University and a law degree
by a series of comfortable chairs. and more complicated, you need from The George Washington
Seated at the head of the table is people who understand [these University, he is currently part of
a friendly looking man with dark complexities] enough that other the firm of Wacks & Hartman,
auburn hair who leans back and people can rely on them.” located in Morristown.
says, “One thing I always say to For the past 20 years, Richard Established in 1715,
people is, ‘If everybody always Beilin has practiced law in the Morristown enjoys a special place

Anything goes at
the law firm of
Crane, Poole,
and Schmidt on
Boston Legal.
in American history as the site When asked how the real trial. “Many attorneys I know who
of General George Washington’s practice of law compares with what do trial work won’t have more than
headquarters during part of the is seen in television and films, one or two trials a year.”
Revolutionary War (1775–1783). Beilin laughs, “The one time I Films and television also rarely
Today the town is a quiet watched Ally McBeal [a television represent accurately the amount of
community filled with Victorian- program], it made me nuts because time lawyers spend at a courthouse
style houses, office buildings, the client would come in and the waiting for their cases to be heard.
stores, and restaurants. As the very next day they would have “I remember at the time I was
county seat, Morristown is also the a trial.” The reality, he says, is doing a lot of work in bankruptcy
site of a large courthouse teeming very different, as a case may take court,” Beilin says. “You could
with daily activity. months or even years to come to show up at court at 9:00 a.m. and

Beilin stands by the law.

be literally number 115 on the These days, Beilin says, it is deals with the day-to-day issues
motion list. You’d sit there for very rare for him to be in court, that arise in the enforcement of
three and a half hours before your as the majority of his work is these regulations.
case got called. I would always nonadversarial in nature. Most Much of Richard Beilin’s time
bring other work or reading to do of his time is spent representing is spent attending town council
while I was waiting. But they never the interests of homeowners meetings at night. In the month
show that on [television shows], associations (including following the introduction of
how someone has to sit around for condominium boards) and an ordinance, there are public
three hours with nothing to do. municipal governments. He drafts hearings before the council votes
They don’t show the down time the ordinances and resolutions that on whether it should be adopted.
when you are not on trial.” become law for the towns. He also He notes that when an ordinance
Attorneys study mountains

of paper to defend their
clients properly.

is to change the speed limit on a “Many times a lawyer will tell a eclectic variety that includes ET,
street, “You’d be surprised at how client that they will win them a Apocalypse Now (“it has a great
many people show up.” $1 million judgment only to try literary quality to it”), Woman of
Beilin says, “You are writing to persuade them later to accept a the Year, Auntie Mame, and It’s a
[laws] that affect people on a day- $30,000 settlement. A lot of times Wonderful Life.
to-day basis. … This is the ground the biggest impediment to settling The last of these films is a
level of democracy.” He continues, a case is not knowing how to particularly apt selection for
“At town meetings you see what manage your client’s expectations.” Beilin in that he is very similar
the most important issue is to a He adds, “Ultimately you have to to the George Bailey character
particular person and it really does really care about the people you (played by Jimmy Stewart). Both
get discussed and listened to. The are representing.” are dedicated, hard-working
council members look at people’s As a member of the local family men who have committed
problems — like street road access attorney ethics committee, Beilin themselves to improving the lives
to fire protection services — and does a great deal of work on ethics of the people in their respective
try to solve them. … issues. He says, “When advising a communities.
“I genuinely do like the fact client you can think of other than
that most of the members of the purely legal issues — like economic
boards and councils are volunteers, issues and moral issues.”
and they are doing a job that is His cell phone chimes out Karen Hofstein is a writer in
thankless a lot of the time, but they with a ringtone set to the theme New York City.
really do try as hard as they can. from the classic Italian western
They are overwhelmingly honest film The Good, the Bad and the
people. It sounds corny but it’s nice Ugly. He excuses himself to answer
to help people.” a call from his wife. For the past
Beilin adds that he has 19 years, Beilin has been married
found a great deal of fulfillment to his high school sweetheart,
in representing the needs of Lorraine. They live in Morristown
individuals and fondly relates a with their two children, 13-year-
particular exchange he had 15 old Katie and 10-year-old Sam.
years ago with a grateful client. Beilin is a dedicated husband and
“When I was doing bankruptcy father who says that one of his
law, a client called me and said, “most favorite things to do in the
‘Last night was the first good world is to go to Sam’s baseball
night’s sleep I’ve had in months. games.” About daughter Katie, he
Thanks.’ ” says with pride, “She’s an excellent
Among the many things student and all-around great kid.”
Richard Beilin considers essential Beilin is a “huge baseball fan,”
to being a good lawyer is “having with the New York Yankees as his
the ability to separate the things favorite team. As a former college
that are important from the things English major, he frequently
that aren’t.” He also says, “It is relaxes at night by reading
important to know when you are 19th-century books and what
right and insist on it but also know he describes as “big fat Russian
when you are wrong and have the novels.” He is also a film buff with
ability to explain to people why an encyclopedic knowledge of
they are right or wrong.” He notes, old movies. His favorites are an

Notorious
“RAPPER WITH A RAP SHEET”
Notorious B.I.G. had a short, sensational, and troubled life.
N
otorious B.I.G. was one of “I wasn’t the man my mom wanted With money and fame came
rap music’s greatest per- me to be,” he said in the film. more difficulties. Biggie became
formers, and the film No- Wallace then went to jail on a involved in a feud between rap
torious tells the story of his short, drug charge, and he was behind artists that turned violent. Tupac
sensational, and troubled life. “Big- bars when his daughter was born. Shakur, another famous rapper,
gie’s” real name was Christopher He expressed his frustration by was gunned down in Las Vegas in
Wallace, and he grew up in a poor writing rhymes in a notebook. Af- September 1996, although Biggie
neighborhood in Brooklyn, New ter he got out of jail, Wallace used was never implicated in the murder.
York. His mother, a teacher and those rhymes to land a recording Despite death threats, Biggie went
single parent, provided direction contract. At first, he used the stage to Los Angeles to promote his new
and discipline, but young Christo- name Biggie Smalls, a play on his album. On March 9, 1997, he, too,
pher decided he could never make large size — over six feet and 300 died in a barrage of gunfire during
it big by staying in school, even pounds. Later, he started calling a drive-by shooting. He was only
though he was a good student. As a himself Notorious B.I.G. and re- 24 years old. The film ends with
teenager in the 1980s, he became a leased his first album, “Ready to scenes of devoted fans mourning
street hustler, selling crack cocaine. Die,” in 1994. Among the raps on that Biggie’s death and celebrating his
He had money for hip clothes and album were “Suicidal Thoughts,” life because he had “proved that no
fancy jewelry, but his life was full “Me and My Bitch,” and “Who Shot dream is too big.” Two weeks later,
of problems. His girlfriend became Ya?” Although darkly violent and his second album was released.
pregnant, and his mother threw explicitly sexual, these raps won The title was “Life After Death.”
him out of their apartment when praise from many critics and fans — CHESTER PACH
she found out he was a drug dealer. for capturing life on the streets
in inner-city neighborhoods.

PERFECTING THEIR PITCH
BY BRIAN HEYMAN
Juilliard students Robyn Quinnett
B
enjamin Harris sat on the The two 21-year-olds are music and Benjamin Harris know that
success in the classical music
stage in front of the Sphinx students at the Juilliard School, a
business takes discipline and
Symphony Orchestra. He highly selective and prestigious endless practice.
put his bow to his large double New York City school of drama,
bass and played a movement of a music, and dance. Harris and
concerto for the crowd watching Quinnett were participating in
the final concert of the 2009 the Sphinx Organization’s annual chosen for the semifinal.
Sphinx Competition at Orchestra event for black and Latino string Harris began making a
Hall in Detroit. Robyn Quinnett players, part of its program to name for himself by reaching the
had played in the semifinals a few develop young minority artists ultimate round and being selected
days earlier at another Michigan and to enhance diversity among by the judges as the runner-up
venue, Rackham Auditorium in classical musicians. While young among the three finalists. He took
Ann Arbor. She put her bow to her musicians nationwide submitted home $5,000 and a glass trophy.
violin and let the soothing sounds audition tapes, only 18, Harris “It was definitely a rush,” Harris
flow for the panel of judges. and Quinnett among them, were said, reflecting later in the year at

Juilliard. “Just performing there I’ve done a lot of them. You have Quinnett said. “I love for people to
with a good orchestra behind me, to put your best foot forward and enjoy. Music, in general, just takes
it was quite a feeling. That’s what hope you have a good day. I think you away from all the gritty things
it was all about. I didn’t really care I had a good day. You learn a lot in life. It can clear your mind.
about the prize at that moment. from the judges’ comments.” It’s very therapeutic. The violin is
Getting to the finals was good Both Harris and Quinnett really expressive.”
enough.” aspire to earn their living in While Quinnett began on the
Quinnett would have loved to classical music, to put their piano at age six before switching to
have made the finals and could try lessons, talent, and passion to use the violin, Harris wanted a more
again, but she looked back from by performing for others. They pulsating soundtrack when he was
school and expressed no regrets can’t help but have a connection to a child. Although he lived for a
about her semifinal performance. their music and their instruments. little while in Florida and Ohio, he
“I wouldn’t have changed a thing,” “Beautiful sounds please people, was born and mostly raised in the
she said. “Competitions are funny. and I love to entertain people,” city of Xalapa in Veracruz, Mexico.
Fighting his way to the top: Notorious B.I.G.

mugs for the crowds.

“Music … takes
you away from
all the gritty
things in life,” says
Quinnett. She
started learning
piano at age six
and later switched
to violin.

Harris doggedly pursues musical
perfection. At age 21 he already
has the talent and the drive to
make his dream a reality.
“My mom tried to put me into 13. But he explored other music, the price was right. “My mom was
classical and take me to operas, including jazz, and took a new encouraging me to get into that
and I didn’t want to have anything direction at 16. “I started double music school because they give you
to do with it,” Harris said. “I didn’t bass and I started listening to a lot the instruments for free,” Harris
understand it. It was too serious. I of classical music,” Harris said. “I said. “We didn’t have the money
couldn’t stay still for two seconds.” just realized that’s what I wanted to pay for instruments. I was like,
So he took up the electric bass to do for the rest of my life.” ‘Wow, the double bass is expensive,
guitar when he was 10 and made He studied for two years at so I might as well take advantage.’”
money playing in clubs with rock the Instituto Superior de Musica It was no surprise he pursued
bands beginning when he was del Estado de Veracruz because music. Harris is from a musical

family. His mom, Cecilia Ladron grace on skates, competing as a “I wouldn’t really judge my
de Guevara, is a singing teacher at figure skater. She said she won success by how well known [I am]
the conservatory in Veracruz. She nine gold medals and a silver in or how much money [I make]. But
is in that university’s choir and U.S. Figure Skating Association I would definitely want to be well
sings once a year in an opera. His competitions in her age groupings. liked. I would want people to want
American father, Arlan Harris, “I just had a great time with it,” to hear me. Then I would be doing
went to the North Texas School of Quinnett said. “I’ve always been something valuable.”
Music and is a piano technician into athletic things.”
in New York City. He used to be a But at age 15 she gave up
drummer in jazz bands and played skating to focus her energies on
percussion in a symphony. making music. “I had to choose Brian Heyman has been a
Benjamin Harris came to New between the two of them because I sportswriter in the New York area for
York and auditioned at Juilliard. couldn’t take them both seriously,” 27 years, earning numerous national
He received a scholarship and now she said. “I liked violin a lot and regional journalism awards. He
is in his third year at the school. better.” is a staff writer for the Journal News,
“My future goal professionally After reaching the semifinals a Gannett daily newspaper based
is first to try to find a job in an of the Junior Division in the 2006 in White Plains, New York, and he
orchestra,” he said. “That’s where Sphinx Competition, she went to freelances for the New York Times
I would get my steady income. study violin for a year in Georgia, and the Associated Press.
And then I would also like to then came to New York City on
keep playing solos and have a solo her own. She eventually auditioned
career as well. I like being soloist of at Juilliard. The acceptance meant
an orchestra. I think I would like everything to her. “It was like
to be in the U.S. for a while and being reborn,” Quinnett said. “It
pursue being with great musicians was a dream come true.” Now she
everywhere around the world.” is in her second year and thinking
Quinnett entered the musical about playing professionally and
world with her piano lessons possibly teaching someday.
on the small Caribbean island “The sky’s the limit,” Quinnett
of Montserrat, where she was said. “I would love to have solo
born. She was a seven-year-old opportunities. I also really love
living in North Carolina, where chamber music, but it’s hard to
her American father, Larry, was be in a group that you click with.
stationed in the military, when she It’s like being married to a few
saw a symphony orchestra. She other people. My hope is to find
asked her parents for a violin and people that I really like to work
finally received one about a year with and have the creative freedom
later and started lessons. to decide who I want to play with
Quinnett then lived the life of and what I want to play. In that
a military child, moving to bases way, you’d have to be in a soloist
in places like Texas and Tennessee. tier. There are a lot of factors that
She returned to North Carolina go into whether you can become
and took secondary school courses successful at it. But if I’m working
online so she could have more hard, sometimes it surprises you.
time to devote to her two passions. It’s just little steps at the time,
Besides violin, she also showed I think.”

Desperate Housewives “LOVE THY NEIGHBOR”
We share everything — even our spouses.
W
isteria Lane, the street san’s ex-husband and with another life. Then there was the tornado
on which all the main neighbor, Carlos Solis, in between that devastated the neighborhood
characters on the tele- his two marriages — both to Gabri- and seriously injured Carlos, leav-
vision program Desperate House- elle Solis. ing him blind for years.
wives live, winds through a typical Wisteria Lane seems like a Despite the charms of life on
American suburban neighborhood quiet street, where life is safe and Wisteria Lane, some residents oc-
in the city of Fairview. The hous- secure, but sometimes accidents — casionally endured extended ab-
es are large and comfortable, the or worse — occur. In the opening sences. Carlos served a prison
lawns are lush, and the neighbors episode, Mary Alice Young com- sentence when he pleaded guilty
are — well — neighborly. Susan May- mitted suicide. Her neighbor, Rex to assault. Orson went to jail af-
er, who was divorced, married her Van de Kamp, also suffered an un- ter he confessed to running down
neighbor, Mike Delfino, divorced timely death when his pharmacist, Mike with his car. Mike did jail time
him, and then married him again. who had fallen in love with Rex’s for manslaughter and drug dealing
Susan’s old friend and neighbor, wife, Bree, tampered with his heart before he moved to Fairview. All
Katherine Mayfair, was living with medication. Susan accidentally set these former criminals have paid
Mike and planned to marry him Edie’s house on fire; Edie, in re- their debt to society and are now
until he suddenly decided to get taliation, did the same to Susan’s living “typical” suburban lives on
back together with Susan. Mike house. Orson Hodge, who became Wisteria Lane.
was a very good neighbor to Edie Bree’s second husband, intention- — CHESTER PACH
Britt, with whom he had a romantic ally hit Mike with his car, inflicting
relationship before he married Su- serious injuries. Even worse was
san. Edie also had affairs with Su- the car accident that took Edie’s

THEIR OWN SUPPORT
NETWORK
BY JOSHUA K. HANDELL
Katarina Podlesnaya shows affection
N
for her grandmother.
ineteen-year-old Katarina immigrated to the United States
“Kate” Podlesnaya comes from Russia in 1993, first settling
from a blended family. in Baltimore, Maryland, before
Like nearly 11 million other moving to the Washington,
minors in the United States, Kate D.C., area. It was in Potomac, moments, the family is eager to
lives with one biological parent Maryland — just a few miles share impressions of their adopted
and one stepparent. But Kate’s outside the nation’s capital — that country and reminisce about
family is blended in another, very Marina met Yuri Nakshin and his the pros and cons of life in
American way: They represent daughter Natalya, Ukrainian-born Eastern Europe.
immigration from different immigrants who had also arrived After reciting a list of common
nations. Half of the Podlesnaya in America in 1993. After receiving American stereotypes of Russians
family was born in Ukraine and her visa, Kate joined her mother — “Siberia is the worst place on
half in Russia, and all of them now in the United States during the earth, we drink lots of vodka, all of
live in the United States. summer of 2001. With their slight us are in the KGB or the mafia…”
Kate’s mother Marina accents, evident only in fleeting — Marina and Yuri get misty-eyed

Sin in suburbia: Being “neighborly” takes
on sinister connotations in Desperate
Housewives.
reflecting on the loved ones they versions of the American Dream: determination to make the most
had to leave behind to pursue their Not only have they immigrated of her opportunities in the United
American dream. “I have this to the United States and settled States, Marina has built up her
nostalgic urge to return to Kiev,” into a comfortable lifestyle, but clientele from a few close friends to
Yuri muses wistfully. “All of my they also have built a business a large and devoted customer base.
best friends still live there. But from the ground up. Marina owns “I’ve heard people talk about
with Marina’s business, it’s hard and operates her own hair salon Russia under the Soviets and
for us to get away for long periods.” just outside of Washington. With Russia today as entirely different
Katarina’s family has lived two the support of her family and the countries,” reflects Marina. “It’s

The extended Podlesnaya
family reconnects over
a meal. These Ukrainian
and Russian immigrants
integrate traditions and
values from the old country
into their new lives in the
United States.

No backstabbing here. The Podlesnayas
demonstrate that the family that plays together
stays together.
true [that] a lot of things are very and argue about American politics. starting over in America. Though
different, but there is still not the This tradition has been around the immigrant experience in the
equality of opportunity that’s ever since Yuri moved to the States. United States is not always an
everywhere here. It’s not as bad These Saturday nights refuel the easy path to prosperity, the new
in many ways as the Soviets were, Russian aspect that our lives might family that Yuri, Marina, Natalya,
but the success I’ve achieved here be missing.” and Katarina formed in their
would’ve been nearly impossible Leaving the country of new homeland has prospered
in Russia.” one’s birth is always difficult; tremendously.
Yet economic security cannot leaving after growing up there, “Life in the U.S. is simply
fully compensate for far-flung establishing a career, and starting easier compared to life in the
friendships and displaced relatives. a family is harder still. But Yuri post-Soviet bloc,” Yuri explains.
Sharing a twinge of melancholy, and Marina both saw advantages “During Soviet times, when
Marina remains circumspect: for themselves and, most we were growing up, there
“Every Saturday night, we meet up importantly, for their children was a deficit on everything,
with our [Russian] family friends, that far outweighed the costs of ranging from school supplies
drink a couple of bottles of vodka, moving across the world and to even bread.” “Except perhaps

vodka,” Marina chimes in with prestigious Ross School of
a mischievous giggle. “Yes, well, Business. Looking ahead, she plans
except perhaps that,” concedes a to pursue a career in marketing
grinning Yuri. “Job search and and public relations in the United
successful advancement depended States, which she calls “the land of
entirely on your relationship with the free.”
the [Communist] Party.” “The U.S. was very welcoming
Marina shares a story about to us, and we are thankful for
her father, a skilled pilot, who that,” reflects Natalya, speaking
was repeatedly passed over for for herself and her stepsister.
promotion for his refusal to America is thankful too.
join the Communist Party. For Immigrant families like Kate’s
her, immigrating to America defy simplistic stereotypes of
was about providing a future of the American family. Neither
economic security and educational scandalous nor self-absorbed, Yuri
opportunity for her daughter. and Marina made great sacrifices
Kate’s stepsister, Natalya, was only to win what some might consider
nine years old when her father an unremarkable middle-class
brought her to the United States life. But the opportunities they
for much the same reason. enjoy and seek for their children
While television often depicts are remarkable, and they are a
American families as the home of reminder that the United States
spoiled teenagers and “desperate remains a land of opportunity, not
housewives,” the Podlesnaya least for new Americans of every
family suggests a more accurate race and color and creed.
depiction might include strong
cross-cultural connections, a deep
work ethic, and a strong priority
on obtaining a good education, Joshua K. Handell was an intern
ideally at a world-class university. in the Bureau of International
Describing “equality of the sexes” Information Programs in the summer
as one difference between Russia of 2009. He is an undergraduate at
and the United States, Kate attests the University of Michigan in Ann
that her mother has consistently Arbor, where he plans to pursue
“placed great emphasis on graduate studies in the Gerald R.
education.” Ford School of Public Policy.
“It makes sense,” Kate says.
“Parents come to the U.S. to
provide their children with an
opportunity for a brighter future.
As their children, we have to follow
suit by studying hard and making
the most of our chance.” True to
her word, Kate is working toward a
degree in business administration
from the University of Michigan’s

Montgomery Burns “SHOW ME THE MONEY”
Maniacal mogul: Nothing but dollar signs are in the eyes of Montgomery Burns.
A
fter watching a movie with ployee at the nuclear plant, but a child. Through an unlikely series
scary characters, Homer Mr. Burns treats him, like all his em- of accidents, Bobo ended up with
Simpson tried to reassure ployees, with utter disdain. Burns Maggie, Homer’s youngest child.
his son Bart by telling him, “There’s even tried to take away one of the After hard bargaining, Mr. Burns
nobody that evil in real life.” Per- workers’ most important benefits agreed to pay Homer one million
haps not, but in Springfield, where — their dental plan — but Homer dollars as well as three Hawaiian
the Simpsons live, there’s Mont- became union president and led islands for Bobo. No amount of
gomery Burns, who delights in evil the workers out on strike. They money, though, would make Mag-
deeds. Burns is the billionaire own- didn’t give up even after Mr. Burns gie relinquish her teddy bear. But
er of the Springfield Nuclear Pow- turned off all the electricity and when she saw how sad Mr. Burns
er Plant on the television program plunged Springfield into darkness. was without Bobo, she gave him
The Simpsons, and he’s willing to In the end, the triumphant workers the bear for nothing. “Something
do just about anything to increase sang, “They have the plant, but we amazing has happened,” the de-
his power and wealth. He steals oil have the power.” testable old man blurted out. “I’m
from the Springfield Elementary Mr. Burns has lived a long and actually happy.”
School. He activates a device that luxurious life. He is more than 100 — CHESTER PACH
blots out the sun so that Spring- years old; he lives in a mansion with
field will be totally dependent on the largest television in “the free
his power plant. “What good is world” and a collection of priceless
money if it can’t inspire terror in treasures. Yet there was one thing
your fellow man?” he asks. that Mr. Burns still wanted — a ted-
Homer has been a loyal em- dy bear named Bobo that he lost as

CUTTING COSTS WHILE
SAVING THE EARTH
BY GAIL KALINOSKI
Small-business owner Steve Rigoni
S
gets his hands dirty helping out with
teve Rigoni’s interest in something else,” the 55-year-old every aspect of his wind farm.
wind power dates back to Rigoni notes. Rigoni, a married
the 1970s, when the United father of three grown children,
States was feeling the effects of an turned to crop farming. “We grow
energy crisis and oil prices had corn, soybeans, and hay for the
risen dramatically. He built his local horse people and grass for built on his sprawling, 600-acre
own wind turbine then. Though it drying the corn. We do custom (240-hectare) farm in Pavilion,
worked, Rigoni, a third-generation [corn] drying for other farmers in New York, located about 90
dairy farmer in upstate New York, the area,” Rigoni says. minutes from the Canadian border.
admits it wasn’t terribly reliable, He also decided that year He is part of a growing trend
and he eventually took it down. to give wind power another try. in the United States: residents,
By 2006, Rigoni had decided Now when Rigoni looks out in his farmers, and small-business
to give up dairy farming. “It was backyard, he sees a 10-kilowatt owners who are creating their own
my grandfather’s dream. I did it Bergey wind turbine attached electricity through wind power.
for 35 to 38 years. It was time for to a 140-foot (42.5-meter) tower The small wind market has been

growing rapidly in recent years, 78
percent in 2008 alone, according
to Ron Stimmel of the American
Wind Energy Association. Stimmel
says government incentives are
helping people like Rigoni, who
seek energy independence and
a way to reduce their carbon
footprint, to manage the cost of the
wind turbine systems.
Rigoni was one of the first in
his area to put up a wind turbine
on his property for his personal
use, but others have been cropping
up around town since Rigoni’s was
erected more than three years ago.
Even the local school district has
turned to wind power, Rigoni says.
Rigoni obtained his turbine
from Sustainable Energy
Developments, Inc. (SED), a dealer
in turbines from the personal
size up to commercial models,
including a 1.5-megawatt project
at Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort in
Hancock, Massachusetts. But the
company takes a lot of pride in its
small wind projects like the one at
Rigoni’s farm.
Ernie Pritchard, cofounder
and director of small wind at SED,
says Rigoni and others like him
who install wind turbines on their
properties are “looking to make a
statement and believe in renewable
energy.” Since SED is a small Cruel, conniving, and obsessed by profits, Montgomery Burns cares
company, Pritchard remembers even less about the environment than he does about
installing Rigoni’s windmill his workers in The Simpsons.
and still talks with him about
maintenance issues.
“He loves his turbine,” and many state governments measures helped Rigoni make the
Pritchard says of Rigoni, sounding offer tax credits, interest switch to wind power.
like a proud father. discounts, and other incentives Rigoni’s turbine produces
Rigoni’s wind turbine system, to help Americans convert to about 800 kilowatts of electricity
including installation, cost this environmentally-friendly, a month, just about enough to
$55,000. But the U.S. government energy-efficient technology. These power all the appliances in his

Steve Rigoni is one of a growing
number of Americans looking
for ways to reduce their carbon
footprint and their fuel costs.

Capturing the wind’s energy is safe,
clean, and renewable.
home and office. Before Rigoni

installed the wind system, he and
his wife, Susan, had a natural
gas-powered clothes dryer and hot
water heater. They switched both
to electricity to take full advantage
of their windmill.
Rigoni’s electric bill used to be
about $120 to $140 a month. The
windmill makes those bills a thing
of the past. He usually only pays a
basic fee of about $16 a month to
the utility company, National Grid.
During a visit to his farm,
Rigoni, dressed in a plaid shirt
and blue jeans, demonstrated how
his system works. Although it is

only 200 yards (182 meters) from still take about 15 years before the “Supply and demand, it’s
his home, Rigoni says he never wind turbine pays for itself. But something we farmers know all
hears loud noises. His windmill Rigoni believes it is important for about,” Rigoni says, adding, “I
has become something of a town Americans to do what they can to believe we all have to do something
landmark as others considering decrease dependence on oil and about the energy crisis.”
erecting their own turbines have coal for power and to use more
stopped by to see his. renewable sources of energy like
Rigoni says he has never been wind, solar, and biofuels.
approached by a large commercial “One of the ways I look Gail Kalinoski is a freelance writer
wind farm developer seeking to at the wind turbine is it is a and editor living in Wappingers Falls,
erect bigger windmills on his land, diversification in my investment New York. A journalist with more
but other farmers in neighboring portfolio,” Rigoni says. “I put than 25 years of experience, she has
towns have been. Today, large money into buying the windmill written about alternative energy,
white wind turbines dot the now and I get my electric bill paid commercial real estate, and other
rolling landscape of many upstate when I retire.” business topics for newspapers, Web
New York communities as they While he notes that wind sites, and trade publications.
supply clean wind power to utility power is still “one of the loves
companies. of my life,” these days Rigoni is
Even though Rigoni’s putting his energies into another
windmill is much smaller than type of alternative energy:
the commercial-size wind biomass, which is fuel or heat
turbines, he still had to get created from plants and plant-
approval from local officials to derived materials. In Rigoni’s case,
set up the system because of its he burns the switchgrass he grows
height. Since there are no other on his farm to dry corn instead of
neighbors near his property, he using propane gas.
was given the go-ahead. As with the windmill, Rigoni
Wind turbines require an becomes excited as he explains
annual wind speed average of about this new system — how he built
10 miles (16 kilometers) per hour to it, how it works, and how it saves
make them practical for personal both money and the environment
use. This works for Rigoni, whose because it is carbon dioxide
upstate New York town benefits neutral. By burning switchgrass,
from stiff seasonable breeze he saves about 1,000 gallons (3,800
blowing off nearby Lake Erie. liters) of propane a day during the
On a late summer day, there fall corn-drying season. Propane
was a light breeze in the air and can cost at least $2 a gallon so the
the three white 10-foot (three- savings add up quickly.
meter) fiberglass blades of Rigoni’s While the savings are
windmill were spinning gently important, especially to a farmer,
across the brilliant blue sky. He for Rigoni a big part of his
notes it takes five or seven good switchgrass-burning project is
days of wind to get most of the convincing others to invest time
electricity for the month. and money in creating renewable
Even though his electric bills energy sources and the markets
are covered every month, it will for them.

Dr. Phil
“TOUGH LOVE, ON CUE”
Dr. Phil knows best. And he’ll tell you so. Again and again.
D
r. Phil makes millions of from experts. Dr. Phil is always Kaylee in tears. The parents ex-
house calls each day, there, too, bluntly telling them to changed “disturbing accusations”
coming into the homes of “get real” and improve their lives. and engaged in what the announc-
viewers of his television talk show Many people watch Dr. Phil er promised viewers was “a con-
to provide help with the challeng- because the program makes com- frontation that you’ll never forget.”
es of daily living, including relation- plicated issues simple and dramat- “Does anybody have this child’s in-
ships, parenting, weight loss, and ic. On one show, Dr. Phil brought terest at heart?” Dr. Phil asked, as
sexuality. Phillip McGraw earned a mother to tears when over and he sensationalized a sad situation
a Ph.D. in psychology in 1979 from over he played a video of her that would usually be resolved by
North Texas State University, but screaming at her son, “Shut up, the discreet intervention of pro-
he gave up his clinical practice. He Vincent.” fessionals in social work or law
gained widespread attention with Dr. Phil sometimes deals with enforcement.
the publication in 1999 of a best- sleazy and salacious cases, giv- Dr. Phil no longer has a thera-
selling book, Life Strategies, and ing viewers and members of the pist’s license, but the state of Cali-
then launched his popular televi- audience a chance to peer into fornia, where he tapes his show,
sion show, Dr. Phil, in 2002. Each troubled lives and dysfunctional decided that he didn’t need one.
day’s program has a theme, such families. He devoted two pro- State officials concluded that his
as “Sibling Abuse,” “Sex Offend- grams to allegations that a father program is more about entertain-
ers Next Door,” and “My Big Fat was mistreating his three-year-old ment than psychology.
Spoiled Family Member.” Guests daughter, complete with what the — CHESTER PACH
grapple with their problems on the show’s announcer described as
show, sometimes receiving advice “heartbreaking footage” of young

HELPING YOUTH, ONE
CONVERSATION AT A TIME
BY SONYA F. WEAKLEY
Dr. Perette Arrington respects
D
those she counsels. This includes
r. Perette Arrington knows She is the only person who
protecting their privacy.
what it’s like to listen to hears them. She meets with people
emotional outbursts of in a private office in a confidential
anger and confusion. She knows setting where her visitors can feel
about the pain of people who are safe about expressing their feelings. separate it” from her personal life,
suffering emotional stress. Her No cameras. No television. No she said.
career as a psychologist sometimes public drama. When she goes home, she
means she has to accept and hold During her career, Arrington doesn’t tell anyone about any of the
the emotions of her patients. She is has worked with patients who are people she has seen. “It’s part of
a container. very sick, and the sessions could what makes my job special.”
“When they can’t contain it, be difficult. “Sometimes people ask Arrington has a doctor of
they project it out and it has to go me how I do the work that I do. It psychology degree from The
somewhere,” she said. “I will sit is sad to think what some people George Washington University in
in a session and contain all their go through with mental illness, Washington, D.C., and a master’s
emotions.” but I wouldn’t do it if I couldn’t degree in counseling psychology

from Howard University, also in In her group sessions, she She also periodically goes into
Washington. works with sixth-, seventh-, classrooms to teach an entire class
Though she has worked in and eighth-graders on a single and works directly with teachers
many settings, Arrington recently topic, such as conflict or anger and parents on managing different
became the resident psychologist management. Her goal is to types of behavior. Recently, she
at John Philip Sousa Middle prevent problems before they taught a class to help students
School in Washington. The city happen. She also sees children understand the signs of suicide.
has a mental health program one at a time to help them work “I teach them how to figure out the
to help schools work with out personal problems, such as signs within their friends, siblings
children one on one and in small a conflict with a friend or a and how to get help. Sometimes
private groups. family concern. kids just don’t know; they might
More about entertainment than

helping people, the Dr. Phil
show is truly a spectacle.
Don’t argue with Dr. Phil.
It’s his show, and he
is always right.

Dr. Perette Arrington
has counseled youth
in shelters and in
public schools.

Helping middle school students
turn their backs because they don’t an eighth-grade student. “You can is Arrington’s specialty. She takes
know how to respond.” come to her if you are feeling down their problems seriously and they,
For a group of eight sixth- and or have a problem.” in turn, confide freely in her.
seventh-grade girls, Arrington She also intervenes in “mini
led a weekly lunchtime anger crises,” such as when two students
management discussion about get into an argument, but the
what it means to have a “low- problem is not discussed in front and the students at the school.
frustration tolerance.” This type of other students; the disagreeing The school is lucky because most
of “intervention” is meant to stop students work it out privately. schools do not enjoy the benefit
problems before they occur. Sousa Principal Dwan Jordan of having a full-time staff person
“You can tell Dr. Arrington described Arrington as being focused on the mental health of
your special feelings,” said Lajuan, able to work well with the adults the students, he said. “It has been

a blessing to get Dr. Arrington,” hours a day and also served as a Her work has helped her to
he said. The students “all trust her. familiar face if they needed to go understand the way teenagers
She’s very ethical, and she always to a hospital or if they faced other think and how to channel their
has a plan.” emergencies. competitive nature, and they are
Arrington didn’t initially “I was so drained and tired,” comfortable talking to her. “I
choose to study psychology. As but it became easier when she understand the pressures they
a top volleyball player (starting could see any of the children are under and I can connect
middle hitter for three years) making progress, she said. with them. If you enjoy what you
at Seton Hall University in She also has worked in youth do, it is easy for people to feel
New Jersey, she found herself shelters, in Washington’s public comfortable around you.”
overburdened majoring in biology school system, as an associate in a
pre-medical studies and being a group practice, and as a researcher
year-round athlete. “I was losing for the National Association of
sleep. I had to make a decision.” Social Workers. In addition to her Sonya F. Weakley is a writer and
Her decision was to put her full-time job at the middle school, editor in the Bureau of International
plans to be a cardiologist on hold Arrington has her own part-time Information Programs of the U.S.
and explore another health care private practice where she sees Department of State.
field. “I switched to psychology children and adults in individual
and loved it. It made sense to me.” counseling sessions in her office.
She understood the different She also works as a consultant for
theories of psychology and how another practice.
they help explain different types And never did she give up
of behavior, and she seemed to volleyball. She has been the head
have a natural ability to apply coach of the girls volleyball team
them in specific situations. From at Woodrow Wilson Senior High
that point on, Arrington knew School in Washington for 10
what she wanted to do. Helping seasons, and her team has won its
people work through personal league championship for each of
problems felt like “an innate skill,” them. “It’s a full-time job in itself,”
she said. she said. She plans practices and
While pursuing her degrees, tournaments and even coordinates
she took advantage of many getting parents and others to drive
opportunities for internships and the girls to games. “I do it because
research projects, including an I enjoy it. I do it for the girls.”
internship at a boarding school Coaching volleyball takes a
and clinic for teenagers with great deal of her time, and she
severe emotional disabilities often talks about giving it up,
and a program working with but she continues putting off the
children living in foster (usually decision. “I keep getting these
temporary) homes. wonderful athletes and I want to
At the boarding school, help them and mold them and
Arrington worked several months give them the same opportunity
in a special care program for I had.”
patients who were diagnosed with
advanced mental illnesses. She
was available to the children 24

BY THE NUMBERS
FACTS AND FIGURES
• 5,274: Number of farmers markets in the United • 45 million: Number of people who visited New
States (Farmers Market Coalition) York City in 2009 (New York Times)
• 8.9: Percent increase in the number of farmers • 6.4 million: Number of Americans who use public
markets in the United States from 2005 to 2009 transportation to commute to work
(Farmers Market Survey) (U.S. Census Bureau)
• 55: Number of varieties of vegetables in the White • 33: Percentage of that number who work in New
House garden (New York Times) York City (U.S. Census Bureau)
• $200: Cost of seeds and mulch for the White House • 722: Miles of subway track in New York City
vegetable garden (New York Times) (Metropolitan Transit Authority)
• $2.5 billion: Total spent by Americans in 2008 on • 700,000: Number of cars kept out of New York City
home food gardening (Reuters) per day due to public transportation use
(Metropolitan Transit Authority)
• 43 million: N
umber of U.S. households that grow
their own fruits, vegetables, and herbs • 34,000: Number of police officers in New York City
(Reuters) (Reuters)
• 20: Average percentage growth of U.S. certified • 1,619: Number of police officers in the state of
organic farmers each year for the past 10 years Vermont (U.S. Department of Justice)
(Organic Farming Research Foundation)
• 8,000: Number of police officers at the 2009
• 40.8: Percent of U.S. land area used for farmland inauguration of President Barack Obama
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) (New York Times)
• 17: Percent of U.S. land made up of coastal • 26 out of 44: Number of U.S. presidents with law
communities (not including Alaska) (National degrees (ABC News)
Ocean Service)
• 23,119: Number of lawyers in Japan (Japan Times)
• 55,054: Number of rescues by lifeguards in the
United States in 2009 (United States • 1.14 million: Number of lawyers in the United
Lifesaving Association) States (Wall Street Journal)
• 176.4 million: N
umber of people who visited a • 788,000: N
umber of medical doctors in the United
U.S. beach in 2009 (United States States (New York Times)
Lifesaving Association) • 82 million: Number of people around the globe
who watch the world’s most popular
TV show, the American medical drama
House (Foreign Policy)

• 16,000: Number of students who graduate from • $6.3 billion: Money pledged by the U.S.
U.S. medical schools each year (New government towards state and local
York Times) renewable energy and energy efficiency
efforts (The White House)
• 650,000: N
umber of international students enrolled
at U.S. colleges and universities in 2009 • 627: Number of wind turbines at the world’s largest
(Washington Post) wind farm, the Roscoe Wind Complex in Texas
(CBS News)
• 12.5: Percent of the U.S. population that are
immigrants (United Press International) • 1941: Year of the first wind turbine to feed into an
electrical grid (Wired)
• 10.9 million: Number of school-age children (five
to 17) who speak a language other • 371.7 million: T
otal energy (in thousand kilowatt-
than English at home (U.S. Census hours) produced by renewable
Bureau and State University of New sources in the United States (U.S.
York-Albany) Department of Energy)
• 54: Percent of all U.S. households with a member

who plays a musical instrument (Bolz Center for
Arts Administration)
• 61.8 million: N
umber of Americans who engage in
a volunteer activity (U.S. Bureau of
Labor Statistics)
• 8.24 million: Number of young Americans

(between the ages of 16 and 24) who
regularly volunteer (U.S. Bureau of
Labor Statistics)
• 22: Percentage by which students who participate in

community service are more likely to graduate
from secondary school than those who don’t
volunteer (New York Daily News)
• 89: Percent of American households that give to a

charity (National Philanthropic Trust)
• $1.416 billion: P
roposed AmeriCorps funding
for 2011 to strengthen America’s
volunteer sector (AmeriCorps)

Photo credits:
Picture credits are separated from top to bottom 20: AP Images — © Warner Bros./Photofest;
by dashes, and left to right by semicolons. © Warner Bros./Photofest. 21- 22: Candy Moulton.
Cover: © Fox Searchlight/Everett Collection — 24: CBS/Landov. 25: Seth Harrison. 26: © CBS/
© Paramount Television/CBS/Photofest; Michael Landov (3). 27-28: Seth Harrison. 30: © Miramax/
Desmond/© ABC/Photofest; © Warner Bros./ Photofest. 31: Ken White/State Dept. 32: ©
Photofest — Ron Tom/© Everett Collection — Miramax/Photofest (3). 33-34: Ken White/State
Miramax Films/Photofest — © All-American Dept. 36: © Frank Ockenfels/ABC/Photofest.
Television/Everett Collection; Robert Voets/ 37: Seth Harrison. 38: © Frank Ockenfels/ABC/
© CBS/Landov — Timothy White/The CW/ Photofest; © Richard Cartwright/ABC/Photofest
Landov — 20th Century Fox Television/Photofest. — © Vivian Zinc/ABC/Photofest. 39-40: Seth
Frontispiece: Erwin Wodicka/PhotoSpin. Page 2, Harrison. 42: © The CW/Landov. 43: David Paul
top: 20th Century Fox Television/Photofest; Morris. 44: Andrew Eccles/The CW/Landov —
© NBC/Photofest; © Warner Bros./Photofest. Timothy White/The CW/Landov; © The CW/
2, bottom: Seth Harrison; Robert Benson; Candy Landov. 45-46: David Paul Morris. 48: © Scott
Moulton. 3, top: CBS/Landov; © Miramax Films/ Garfield/ABC/Photofest. 49: Jill Walker. 50: © Scott
Photofest; Michael Desmond/© ABC/Photofest. Garfield/ABC/Photofest (2) — © Blake Little/ABC/
GPS Printed by Global Publishing Solutions (A/GIS/GPS) © (10-2339-E-1.0)

3, bottom: Seth Harrison; Ken White/State Dept.; Photofest. 51-52: Jill Walker. 54: © Fox Searchlight/
Seth Harrison. 4, top: Andrew Eccles/The CW/ Everett Collection. 55: Seth Harrison. 56: Mark
Landov; Scott Garfield/© ABC/Photofest; © Fox Lennihan/AP Images (2); © Fox Searchlight/Everett
Searchlight/Everett Collection. 4, bottom: David Collection. 57-58: Seth Harrison. 60: © Danny Feld/
Paul Morris; Jill Walker; Seth Harrison. 5, top: ABC/Everett Collection. 61: Joshua Handell.
Danny Feld/ABC/Everett Collection; 20th Century 62: © 2004 Moshe Brakha/ABC/Photofest — Reed
Fox Television/Photofest; © Paramount Television/ Saxon/AP Images; ABC/Everett Collection. 63-64:
Everett Collection. 5, bottom: Joshua Handell; Joshua Handell. 66: 20th Century Fox Television/
Gail Kalinoski; Seth Harrison. 6: 20th Century Fox Photofest. 67: Gail Kalinoski. 68: 20th Century Fox
Television/Photofest. 7: Seth Harrison. 8: 20th Television/Photofest (2). 69-70: Gail Kalinoski.
Century Fox Television/Photofest (2). 9-10: Seth 72: © Paramount Television/CBS/Photofest.
Harrison. 12: © NBC/Photofest. 13: Robert Benson. 73: Ken White/State Dept. 74: © Paramount
14: © NBC/Photofest; © All-American Television/ Television/Everett Collection — © Paramount
Everett Collection. 15- 17: Robert Benson. Television/CBS/Photofest (2). 75-76: Ken White/
18: © Warner Bros./Photofest. 19: Candy Moulton. State Dept.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of International Information Programs
2010
http://www.america.gov/publications/books/
Chester Pach Executive Editor: Jonathan Margolis

The television and cinema profiles in this book are Director of Publications: Michael Jay Friedman
written by Chester Pach. He teaches history at Ohio Design Director: Min-Chih Yao
University, where he holds the title of Outstanding Managing Editors: M artin J. Manning
Graduate Faculty Member. He is the author of three Megan A. Wong
books on U.S. politics and foreign policy. His next Contributing Editors: S
onya F. Weakley
book, which will be published soon by the University Nadia Shairzay
Press of Kansas, is The Presidency of Ronald Joshua K. Handell
Reagan. Photo Research: Maggie Johnson Sliker

POP CULTURE VERSUS REAL AMERICA
POP CULTURE
VERSUS
[ \
REAL AMERICA
Bureau of International Information Programs

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
http://www.america.gov/publications/books/

POP CULTURE VERSUS REAL AMERICA
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POP CULTURE

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Introduction by Andrew Ferguson ........................................................................................ 2

Boston Legal .............................................................................................. 48

IMMIGRANT Desperate Housewives ..................................................................... 60

By the Numbers (Facts and Figures) ......................................................................... 78

*All television and cinema profiles are written by Chester Pach.

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Greasy, fattening, and zero nutritional value:

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Farmers market shoppers browse

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They brave the waves and bare (almost) all.

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Lifeguard Katherine Jackson

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Real lifeguards rarely look like those on Baywatch.

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Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman play bad boys on horseback.

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Professional cowboy Duane Wood’s

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Playing cowboys is big business in Hollywood.

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Just give us some DNA — we’ll figure out the rest.

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