David Carradine’s death is shrouded by scandal and mystery. Kung Fu’s Kwai Chang Caine was apparently into some very kinky and strange sexual acts. Thai tabloid Thai Rath published pictures of Carradine nude and tied hanging from a clothes rail. While the photo is grainy and the face is blacked out, it is confirmed that the man in the picture is Carradine, whose family is taking legal actions against the tabloid and has threatened the same against anyone else who publishes the picture.

His ex-wives seem completely unsurprised. Apparently, bondage and autoerotic asphyxiation were par for the course when it came to the 72 year old action star. Marina Anderson, his fourth wife, has mentioned that she left him in part to the fact that she believe his actions would get him hurt or killed.

This death brings to light the story of Michael Hutchence, former lead singer of INXS. Hutchence hung himself in 1997 with a belt during a sexual escapade. Investigations and interviews have revealed that Carradine’s death was of a very similar cause.

For more on this, just check out Google News. Information on his family’s stance, the scene of his death meeting four of the primary criteria need to suggest autoerotic asphyxiation by investigators, his life and work, and his documented history involving strange sexual acts can all be found in abundance. Even wikipedia has a good deal of information regarding Carradine’s death.

In his 72 years, Carradine brought us great entertainment in his many roles, my personal favorite being Frankenstein in Death Race 2000. In his death, he still brings his audience a story with mystery, suspense, and intrigue. Pretty impressive.

Before scanning the news on Friday via Google News, I’d never heard of Greg Gutfield (who I then found out was the 4th most underrated talk show host). This is likely due to the fact that I try to avoid Fox News and it’s “fair and balanced” (read: RIGHT WING FILTH) way of sharing the news.

On Friday, however, I stumbled across his Greg-alogue entitled “Call Someone Racist and Win”. He begins by recapping his discussion of racial politics:

So it took only one day before I was called a racist for, guess what, criticizing racial politics.

If you remember, I pointed out that choosing a Supreme Court nominee based on minority status is a diversionary trick meant to obscure left-wing ideology.

Then he points out:

[A blogger] called me a racist.

Which is awesome, because it proves my point: In the world of racial politics, all you have to do is call someone a racist and you win. Game over.

I know very little about this Greg guy, but I do know that he’s right. Playing the race card is so 90’s… it’s played out. I say that with a my tongue against my cheek, but that doesn’t mean I don’t honestly believe it. Sure, there are racists… sure, minorities are as good as anyone at a job… but using race to get ahead, make a point, or just play the system is wrong. But, unfortunately, it works… and it works well.

I couldn’t care less about Sotomayor’s controversial comments because everyone in the limelight provides controversial soundbites. What is troubling, however, is that the only thing that either side talks about is her race. How about talking about her politics, her ideals, and her accomplishments? The Republicans’ focus on the race comments makes the GOP look old and non-progressive. The Democrats’ focus on her race makes an educated person question her qualifications a great deal. Either way, this whole thing wreaks of black-white racial politicking bullshit.

Let me tie in my personal perspective of the mentality behind racial politics and affirmative action:

As a white male, I am the “privileged”. While I don’t discount the privileges that have been thrust upon me, it is much more due to a solid upbringing and/or my family’s socioeconomic class than by my race. That said, what has being a white male, specifically, gotten me?

A good college education? No, I did that myself… I would likely have been given much more financial aid and many more scholarships and grants had I not been a white male.

A good job? No, I did that myself… in fact, had I been born a female… or, perhaps, black… I’d have a much better shot at a promotion in the next few months. However, as I work for the government and we already have 2 white males in our current management structure, I am likely out of the loop.

So, I ask you… does my stance against affirmative action, racial politics, or playing the race card in general make me a racist? Conservative, liberal, or somewhere in between… if you answer with a simple yes, then your ignorance is much greater than the ignorance of the “racists” that you lambast against. I hate racism, yes, even institutional racism… but Gutfield is dead on.

I view myself as a nice guy, and someone who is concerned with others. When I see someone begging for money or food, I tend to comply. Throwing someone a sandwich or a few bucks comes second nature to me. This is, however, simply a set up to a story of my experience on the El in Philadelphia about a week or so ago.

I step into the train with about 3 bucks in my wallet and about 65 cents in my pocket. I know that the money in my wallet should buy me a small lunch from a lunch truck downtown. Besides the 65 cents in my pocket, I have a token for my ride back to Northern Liberties, where my car is parked. So, about 2 stops into my ride, a woman with 2 bags and ratty old clothes steps onto the train and announces that she hadn’t eaten in a day or two and would appreciate any food or money that anyone had. I immediately reached into my pocket to give her my change and when I handed it to her…

She proceeded to give me the flat tire sound and the eye roll, then continued walking.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? If you truly needed money, you would take my change, wouldn’t you? I honestly don’t get how this woman could have such audacity.