false reality….weee

I have never been a gamer, or even know enough about video games to really know what it meant to be a gamer. My brother got an Atari from one of my uncles at one point. The joysticks were tough and the turny-knob controllers busted on a regular basis. The best game was astroblast, or the one with tanks… combat something or other. We had a whole case full of games, and those were the only two that worked. The Atari was only entertaining for short amounts of time before my brother and I would rather go outside and ride bikes, swim in our canal, or play with our pets.

NES… now there was a system!! I still have the old Nintendo with Mario Bros permanently planted in the slot. The greatest disappointment was thinking I had finished the game, only to have to replay the dang thing in black and white!! My older cousins were the ones with this toy back in the day, and the only opportunities we had to play this was at family occasions like Christmas. While the adults were upstairs being social, the youngsters were downstairs playing this game non-stop. My brother could barely peel himself from it to eat Christmas dinner!

Super NES was the next purchase and I had never played a game as fun as Mariocart. Blisters the size of nickles on your thumbs, and eyes just dry as heck from staring at the tv 3 feet away for about 5 hours. How enjoyable… yet so addicting!! Anywho, the long and short of it was my brother would sneak inside from doing chores, and play his nintendo, or for limited time frames. These games were seen as a waste of time that could be used for things that needed to be done, or that could be done instead. Videogames were seen as vehicles that tainted the mind rather than fuel it.

Alright, after the N64, Playstation era, I am completely lost. I didn’t even know that you could play other real people through these things, let alone type messages and speak to them! What is this doing to the children of today and tomorrow? America has an obesity epedemic. Kids don’t want to go outside and play anymore, they want to shoot eachother in fantasy. What are they learning about true life and death from these fantasy worlds?

I volunteered in grade one for a while, and a few of the children lived and breathed videogames. These young boys would go outside on the playground and pretend to shoot eachother like in the games and would speak in hushed voices about the 14A games that they played at their cousins. Show and share consisted mainly of which games they were good at, the characters they liked, how they got a new controller…..

Videogames are seemingly taking away from the imagination. Why bother thinking of games to play, or wanting to actively participate in physical exertion, when it is all handed to you at the touch of a button. You never get tired, you never really die.

This video must be an example of one of the boxing games. From this clip the family seems to be participating together, and having an enjoyable time. It looks something like taebo….active! good move Nintendo.

Nintendo may be on to something here with the Wii. Getting people to physically become involved, and beginning to focus on family orientation is a start… however, what does this mean for the institutions that are set out for these activities ( such as bowling, tennis, hockey, ect). It doesn’t take much to take your kids bowling, or teach them to play ping pong…In such a technological world, parents don’t have the time nor the patience to take their kids to do these things, and teach them how to physically do it. And why would they when for a measly 500 bone the kids can do it themselves, for as long as they want.

What does this mean for the human form in America? Is everybody going to turn pasty from rarely having to leave the house? Obesity is already huge ( no punn intended), and I think gaming contributes to the problem. Children desire nothing else but to have these toys. They believe they cannot function without them, yet everyone seems to have it. So being left out creates a social barrier for these kids. Parents cater to these demands, believing it is something to do for their children and to make their children happy. It can keep them occupied for hours upon hours with something many parents know next to nothing about. Playgrounds are now dull, the outdoors are a less extravegant and exciting place and it’s seen as a chore to actually go outside to do anything.

If daniel had lived…

Alright, so now they’re coming up with hypothetical theories?! Showbiz tonight head line prime eh? I don’t even know what this show is… Probably something like Entertainment Tonight is my guess. And who is “they”? Who are these people creating these infatuations?! Who is to say any of this is true, and we just seep it up like leeches.

The Marilyn/Anna-Nicole connection is the latest buzz. She isn’t a modern day Monroe, but rather a wanna be copycat… Similarities coincidence? Sure it’s cute that Marilyn’s been a childhood icon of Smiths and that she has senseless amounts of memorabilia, but hasn’t she just taken an act? The thought has never crossed my mind,. I guess I had a different sort of aura surrounding Marilyn. Anna Nicole Smith is absolutely nothing like the perceptions I hold to the true Monroe. Is anybody really buying this stuff? Well perhaps I’m simply out of the loop or something, but I was never one to really bother reading up on what crazy Anna was doing. I do not have the time, the desire, the money to simply waste away on that shyza. Weird… here I am posting a blog on the topic; submitting it to the worldww.

m.m and a.n.s.-They’re both nice guitars, but one will just never be the real thing.

I realized this blog sounds critical and one sided as I was posting comparisons of guitars on this page; only furthering the argument that this is all in variance of taste. Not to mention the dwindling sense of compassion and the urge to know less of larger scale matters. Maybe not even to want to know less, but rather to concentrate on being ignorant and oblivious.
The guitars however, are fabulous….

the white supremacist, patriarchal brigade…

The way race is portrayed through the media is often from the side of the white american. Even when it attempts to portray and adversely affect perspectives of racism and the racial tensions salient within American culture, they are often misunderstood, and in fact, not correct at all.

I love Flava Flav and the Flava of Lovvvvee.   For one, what is with the enormous clocks? For two, I saw one episode, where Flava and one of his booty queens were on a date. But not just any date, rather that of something straight out of the 1950′s… The classic Chevy convertible, a Varsity team jacket, his arm over the top of the bench seat, little miss promiscuous right beside him, listening to the tunes on the radio and overlooking the stars on some picturesque setting. Who created the scenario? Flav? Perhaps. But why?  Because that is the perfect situation for a wonderful date… but TO WHO?… the white american. It is ironical that they would put Flav in this place, seeing as the disruption in the 50′s was of mere turmoil and chaos for people of color, hindering their rights for years to come. Racism is prominent here, because even with the knowledge that this was the face of the earlier years, why would he want to portray that he would rather be participating in such “white” conventions.

Also, this program aired on Much More Music. I could be wrong, but juding on the other programs airing on such a channel, not to mention the tunes they play, they highly aim to satisfying the average white consumer. So what is Flav doing on this type of station? Maybe to be seen as a cool ridin p.i.m.p, however, I know plenty of people who watched the program to simply make fun of Flav, the chicks on the show, and everything surrounding it. It was enjoyable becuase it was funny. It was funny why? Because it is inspiring racist humor really… those are just my thoughts on it, as I don’t really pay attention to much of it, nor know what MMM is all about. That was just what I gathered from watching a mere episode or two of the show.

How about the issue of the NBA change in post/pregame attire? A suit and tie counterpart to chains, crazy kicks, and baggy pants? This welcomed views on whether or not this was a racist move. The symbols of success in white privileged society are the suit and tie. I suppose anywhere in america, a suit and tie is a sign of accomplishment and prestige, but to the culture of the ‘hood’, success is often seen elsewhere. Though there are a few more white players in the NBA than in the past( i think?!), the majority of the athletes are of color. They are managed, owned and operated by who? None but the corporate american. By implementing such rules, are white americans taking away from diversity? There was an article in the U of A newspaper in 2005 on this same topic. Check out the link for more info, it speculates a few good points. One was that ratings went down by 29% , and demanded the dress code to further from the ‘gangsta’ image. Everybody wants the money. The basketball players are being paid the big bucks to supply entertainment, and if those ratings are faltering, a change must be made to continue popularity. Basketball is attempting to shift the cultural boundry and impose rules upon a group of people who behave adversely to the dominance of white america, in order to keep the white americans interested.

NBA Commissioner David Stern told the Los Angeles Times newspaper: “Black kids dress like NBA players but don’t get paid like NBA players.

“So when they go out in the real world, what they wear is held against them.”

Iverson attacked the new ‘smart-casual’ standard and said: “Guys wearing those clothes don’t want to be wearing those clothes. They’re targeting guys who dress like me, guys who dress hip-hop. Put a murderer in a suit and he’s still a murderer. It sends a bad message to kids.”

news.bbc.co.uk/…/basketball/4392182.stm

www.expressnews.ualberta.ca/print.cfm?id=7158

Another is seen through the movie Crash. Yes it was an Oscar winning, best picture, noticed for inspiring an “honest” discussion of the issue of race in the U.S. The truth of the matter however, is that it was a hindrance in the critical project of making white america realize the realism of racism; white privilege. The movie in the end, is trying to pass a point of tolerance. That being actively racist is not an option, but rather to tolerate others. This simply reinforces that there is race, and a race concept, when really there is white privilege and the point should be to raise awareness upon this.

I bet you it’s Nabisco…

A type of Jim Vicary model
Haha the beginning of this movie is so funny. It came out right during the huge explosion of the boy band sensations- N’sync, Backstreet boys, Otown, 98*, ect. It’s trying to portray the intense emotional attachments teens take to trends and fads in bands, movies, clothing and sayings. The corporate push is also implyed, as you can see from this youtube clip, as being the voice that taunts these teens into throwing their money into consumer pits turning them into materialistic junkies. Subliminal messaging is the form in which these ideas are spread to the population; dubbed into music. Josie and the Pussycats similar to Judas Priest? The messages are about purchasing items and popularizing people, opposed to expressions of suicide and darkness i suppose. But neither of them are scientific fact and there’s no real explanation to back up the true existance of these messages.

Subliminal messaging in the media? Bryan Wilson Key brought about several instances of sumbliminal messaging such as seeing the word sex written on Ritz crackers or envisioning massive orgies in a plate of oysters. I remember hearing about similar occurances. The one about the Disney movie Alladin, and being able to hear Jasimine say” sleep with me” was pretty popular and I think it was in The Little Mermaid that you could supposedly see the word sex written in the sand.

Are these subliminal messages creations of our imaginations? The claim is that the messages simply flash too fast to be noticed by the eye, however, they still register within the brain. Very, very intersting Mr. Bigglesworth… hmmm

Judas Priest- Stained Glass

here’s an interesting link to a page about subliminal advertising:

http://www.subliminalworld.org/whatsub1.htm

Fun fun fun!

Good tunes to everybody in class today! That was a really neat and fun way to explore musical tastes and variances. I thought it was interesting how most of the songs brought in were ‘unknown’ or just out of the popular music genre. I thought this helped a little more to distinguish between taste and the social stigma of pop music. It was also neat that a few of the sets of competing songs were similar in style or form, such as the two country songs, and the 311 and LCD Soundsystem ( thanks bananatree). It was also interesting to listen to the defenses of the songs. Would our votes have been changed if this was done prior to listening to the song? Perhaps, becuase our minds would have more to choose from, more reasoning to like the song or not. Just as professor Lawton said, we dislike or like some songs becuase of the source we hear of it from. Hearing the specific details could alter our view of the song, relating with the connections of others or not; shifting the placements of our votes. Fun exercise!

We rock becuase it’s us against them…

Music has held a place in my life as long as I can remember.

The Vinyl: We had a magazine rack full of records, and I’d find myself rifling through them from time to time, staring at the uniqueness of the art on the covers, the pictures of the bands rocking, and the lyrics inside. Neil Diamond’s Hot August Night was one of my favorites when I was little; his denim jumpsuit with rhinestone accents and flowing long locks produced a rockin silhouette against the red, orange lights. Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell was another of my favorite album covers. The nightmare on a motorcycle seriously scared me, yet I found it to be neat and interesting. Simon and Garfunkle, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Randy Travis, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Bob Seeger and the Silverbullet Band, and of course the Boney M Christmas album were a few others I can recall off the top of my head. I also had numerous childrens books on records and loved them dearly.

These records helped to influence the tastes in music I have today, and are all still kickin around at my parents house. They havn’t been used in ages becuase our record player went kaput in about ’89 and it’s more of a hassel than anything to attempt to get a new one.

The Cassettes: Cassettes stuck around for awhile. When I was younger, perhaps grade 2 or 3, I took hold of a few cassettes from out of my parents tape case and called them my own. Fleetwood Mac, Kenny Rogers greatest hits, and The Best of Country Music, Vol II ( 1979, and SOOO GOOD! I’m totally going to list the songs on this tape later becuase they are just fantastic) compiled my music variation. In grade 3 my Auntie Joyce gave me perhaps the greatest gift ever. Mini Pops Volume 1 and then later 2. If anyone’s curious, the Mini Pops were the first children group of “Brill Building” singers covering songs popular of their era. They did such a good job of covering these, that often I’d still rather listen to their versions ( jokes, but it was good). This is where I first heard Video Killed the Radio Stars. This song was my absolute favorite. Japanese Boy, Loop De Loop, and Stop the Cavalry were hot in pursuit though I would listen to, and rewind Video Killed the Radio Stars constantly, lip syncing and air-guitaring to no end while jumping on my bed. Thank you Mini Pops.

Cassettes ruled the music industry. Some others I had were New Kids on the Block, Nitty Gritty, and good ole Neil. My infatuation of music would progress into Junior High when I was the mixtape junkie. Yes there were CD’s, but hardly anybody had a player, and the school gym of course did not. Recording gym tapes was my duty. I was the only one, it seemed, that wanted to bother. One day my friend and I found a tape already in the cassette player in the gym. It had a white- out X on the front of it. It would forever be called tape X and held my favorite songs of gr. 8. I didn’t know what either of them were called, but later found they were Buddy Holly and My Own Worst Enemy. In grade 9 I remember my buddy, Hanson brother, took my Kenny Rogers greatest hits and recorded over it with Cypress Hill, so the rents would think it was still only Kenny. Sorry Kenny. HAHA fooled them anyways.

Song Survey: I’m not this white and nerdy in real life…

This is pretty cool… it’s fresh from all the other boring survey’s. Some turn out really good…and some don’t make any sense… have fun.

So here’s what you do… while you’re
listening to your ipod or itunes or music collection of some sort. Put it
on shuffle/random and fill in the name of the song playing. Skip to the
next song as you skip to the next question, and fill out that title…
repeat as necessary.

Enjoy!

What do I think my current theme song is?
Miss Misery- Elliot Smith

How am I feeling today?
Can’t Stop the Rain- Cascada

What is/was highschool like?
Glycerine- Bush X ( member when they were still bush x and then it just went to Bush…. good times)

Where will I get Married?
HAHA Tulsa Time- Don Williams, I guess that means in Tulsa

What is my best friend’s theme song?:
Under Pressure- My Chemical Romace and The Used

What is the story of my life?:
Watermark- The Weakerthans

How do my friends see me?:
Superman- Goldfinger

Do people secretly lust after me?:
Everybody ( backstreet’s back) – Backstreet boys *** errr duh, I think the song speaks for itself here folks. Now that’s embarassing.

How can I get ahead in life?:
Forever Young- Alphaville – does that imply being forever young or what? This questionnaire is confusing.

My grandparents?:
More Bounce in California- Soul Kid #1 HAHA funny

How is today going to be?:
She’s Gonna Break Soon- Less Than Jake- Oh great… looking forward to today!!!

How is my life going?
Warmness on the Soul- Avenged Sevenfold

What is in store for this weekend?:
One Night in Bangkok- Vinylshakerz- weird.
Will I have a happy life?
Safety Dance- Men Without Hats- WOOOOT- esss aaaa efff eeee tttt yyyy…. dance!!!

What song will they play at my funeral?
Boys Don’t Cry- The Cure

How does the world see me?:
High Tide or Low Tide- Ben Harper/ Jack Johnson

What do my friends really think of me?:
Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off- Joe Nichols ( This isn’t true, I don’t really drink takillya)

How can I make myself happy?:
Wasn’t That a Party- Irish Rovers… I love the part ” someone took a grapefruit, wore it like a hat”…It just makes me giggle!

What is some good advice for me?
Our Lady of Sorrows- My Chemical Romance

How will I be remembered?:
Diamonds on the Inside- Ben Harper

Will I get far in life?
I Love Myself Today- Bif Naked

What song describes my parents?:
Kingston Trio- Where Have All the Flowers Gone

What should I do with my life?:
New York- Ja Rule- I think this is implying I should definately be gangster.

What is my signature dancing song?
I wanna Riot- Rancid and Sublime
Will I ever have children?:
Over and Over- Nelly w/ Tim Magraw…. eeek

What does everyone else think my current theme song is?:
Total Eclipse of the Heart- Bonnie Tyler

What type of men/women do i like?:
Wouldn’t It Be Nice- Beach Boys

My Parting Song: Off He Goes- Pearl Jam