Wednesday, October 28, 2009

My Worst Movie Experience...Ever


I bought my ticket for Michael Jackson's This Is It as soon as they became available on Fandango. Beyond the simple perk it presented for this hardcore MJ fan to see the gloved one on the big screen one last time, it actually looked like it could be a monumental achievement for a film of its kind. This was not to be a movie that merely praised the king, it was a project that Michael himself was heavily involved with. An intimate look at an oft-misunderstood musical genius, juxtaposed from over 50 hours of footage. Captured in the process of assembling what was likely to be one of the greatest concerts ever witnessed, this was to be a story about Michael Jackson, by Michael Jackson - the mysterious, mythical man we all know of, yet do not know.

This was to be my second time seeing the moonwalker on the big screen, I attended a revival of Live in Bucharest at The Senator Theatre earlier this year; but my anticipation had reached an unprecedented height for This Is It. I got my ticket for the first available midnight showing; then my sister expressed that she wanted us to see it together this weekend, so I decided that I'd just have to see it twice. I made the movie poster my background on twitter. I got out my decorated King of Pop shirt. I burned the new MJ mixtape made by DJ Jazzy Jeff. I could see myself pulling up on the White Marsh parking lot bumping Rock With You, Human Nature, PYT, etc.. I had it all planned out.

Then disaster struck. I have been a long-time victim of the anxieties associated with running on CP Time. When I'm in a rush to leave out, something always comes up. Either my allergies will start acting up, or I will be unable to find something I need, like my wallet, or my KEYS.

I turned my junior-suite apartment upside down and inside out trying to find my keys (which happen to have a Thriller key-ring by-the-way). Misplacing my keys is a frequent occurence, so I did not panic initially. I looked every logical place they could be,.. then I looked every illogical place they could be. I checked my backpack and my hoodies: where they usually are. Then I checked my futon and my bed: where they sometimes are. Then I checked in my cabinets and in my refrigerator: where they never are. All to no avail.

When I woke up this morning, I saw that Roger Ebert had given the movie 4 stars (his highest rating). It was a bittersweet feeling, I wanted to see it myself before hearing any criticism, good or bad. But, as I type, I'm stil lookinng,.. and still waiting... to see This Is It.

Update: 7:26 AM - Eureka!

Thursday, October 1, 2009

No Filter,.. No Limits,.. No Rubber!


K. and A., friends from Baltimore's Northern High School, Class of 2003, have quickly made a big impression on Blog Talk Radio with their show No Rubber. Their first episode "Wanna Be Starin' Somethin'" aired just over two months ago on July 14th, and they have already evoked some strong reactions. Their podcast has received two 5-star ratings on iTunes. On the other hand, they have also stirred up a lot of controversy. During their second episode, which explored the divide between Africans and African Americans, Co-host A., conjured up passionate disagreements from both callers and his No Rubber main host, K. (who is of Nigerian descent) . Moreover, No Rubber engaged in a radio battle with fellow Blog Talk program, Hood To Hood, after one of their contributors called in during a No Rubber episode about religion and controversial statements were exchanged.

Kay and Adrian have created their radio broadcast with little more than their laptops and cellular phones. They each conduct the show from their homes, utilizing a switchboard program. As the show's main host, K. usually operates the program, while A. co-hosts by phone; however, they recently traded places for their episode "What's Beef", in which Adrian hosted, as he addressed their Blog Talk adversary Hood To Hood.

"No Rubber was based off of our conversations that we have, they're always raw; and we decided that we needed a show to allow people to hear it because its funny, and its about topics that people talk about all the time," A. stated.

Thus far, No Rubber has discussed topics ranging from relationships, to success, to cultural identity. K. shared that one of his favorite episodes has been "Back in the Day", when they reminisced on childhood memories from the 1980s and 90s, then contrasted their nostalgia with commentary on present-day society.

During their seventh episode, entitled "If Heaven Was a Mile Away", they were discussing religion with their guest-host Pam, when she was profanely interrupted by a caller who was accidently put through to air too early. The caller, Big Mo from Hood To Hood, criticized the Christian beliefs that were expressed earlier in the program by Pam and other callers. Then when A asked Big Mo what he believed in, he answered saying "Nothing. I'm into metaphysics." K. and A. each thanked Big Mo for contributing to the show, but A later made fun of his comments. After Big Mo hung up, A. said, "I think we just had one of those 'when keeping it real goes wrong' moments (a reference to a Chapelle's Show skit). Then referred to him as an "Angry Black Man on an Elevator" (a reference to a Rhymefest song), which Big Mo took particular offense to.

"I wasn't angry about nothing", he said. Offended that A. made the debate racial, he questioned "Why did he have to say 'angry black man on an elevator'?"

However, A was not the only one who found Mo's comments to be aggressive.

"The whole point was 'why are you calling in and being disrespectful?' when the whole idea of the show was about practicing tolerance for other people, and becoming a more respectful society, more respectful of people's beliefs," Pam commented. "So for [Big Mo] to come on the show as hostile as [he] did was just really uncalled for. Even his tone was just ridiculous."

Ladee Dase, hostess of Hood To Hood radio saw it differently. They responded to the No Rubber episode with a "battle" episode, on which they criticized No Rubber, for what they percieved to be disrespect. Since this, representatives from each of the respective shows have called in to the other, and criticisms have been sent back and forth.

"We ran with it on an educated form. We didn't run with it on a corny form", Ladee Dase said regarding A's "What's Beef" episode. "...they actually came back with nothing, and it was mad ignorant, but I feel like we squashed it and it's over."

Pam and Ladee Dase disagree about who started the beef, but they both agree that A took it too far.

"I think that its a situation that definitely could've been avoided. I think Adrian pumped it up a little too much. It's an internet radio station.", Pam added.

K. also showed disapproval of A's comments, but for different reasoning. He thought A was giving Hood To Hood too much credit.

"He was making the whole show about them, but I felt like it would have been an informative show without his call," he shared.

A. believes that everyone else has taken the situation too seriously.

"Yeah, I started it, and I finished it too. You know why I started it? Because its entertainment."

Despite the rawness indicated by the shows title, thus far, No Rubber has only had one episode that was officially deemed "explicit" on iTunes, which has left some llisteners disappointed, or at least confused.

"If they're going to be called No Rubber Nation, they need to decide what exactly they mean; if they're going to be controversial, or say the things that people are afraid to say, and I don't know if they've lived up to that yet"

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Jay-Z vs. Nas...8 yrs later


With the recent release of Jay-Z's Blueprint 3, and with questions swirling about why Nas isn't featured on the album (after he was allegedly offered a guest spot); & just for the simple fact that there hasn't been a really good hip-hop battle in a long time (the best rap battle this year involves pop diva Mariah Carey, & almost involved Nick Jr.), I think now is an appropriate time to revisit the greatest battle hip-hop has ever witnessed.

Most hip-hop fans agree that the rap battle which took place between Jay-Z and Nas was one of the greatest; however when it comes to determining the champion of the bout, the decision is less than unanimous. Despite the ambiguous results, the majority of hip-hop fans seem to mistakenly believe Nas won. This misinterpretation is largely due to subconscious superficiality, sympathy, and poor lyrical examination.

To make a legitimate analysis of the battle and determine the winner, one has to understand both possible perspectives of the argument. The ultimate objective in any musical rivalry is to convince listeners that you are better than your opponent. Jay-Z was hugely successful at the time; meanwhile Nas's once-legendary reputation had drastically descended, especially after his worse-received album, "Nastradamous". Therefore, many fans were surprised and excited that Nas, who at the time was caring for his fatally-ill mother, felt inspired enough to respond at all to the challenge. His first straightforward dis, the "H to the OMO" freestyle, was a weak attack on Jay's honesty and originality. Claiming that Jay-Z copied his rhyming style, and fabricated a criminal past, yet giving no explanations or reason for such claims. The most effective line is where Nas claims to have collected money from Jay-Z sampling his voice.

However, on the 'Takeover', Jay flipped this into one of the most memorable lines of the battle. "So yeah I sampled your voice, you was usin' it wrong, You made it a hot line, I made it a hot song", Jay confessed to Nas' influence, while maintaining his superiority. Then adding insult to injury, Jay clarifies that Nas actually did not collect any money from the sample, instead his former publishing company did. Jay-Z belittled Nas's career to "a one hot album every ten year average", and made the blatant assessment, "smarten up Nas". The latter phrase became so memorable that a general hip-hop website has been named after it. The last verse contains rhymes that still pertain to Nas, yet double as timeless philosophies, such as "A wise man told me don't argue with fools, Because people from a distance can't tell who is who'".

Nas's response was not as explosive as diethyl ether, but it was just as transparent. 'Ether' was a plethora of tired battle cliches, including father-son comparisons, sellout accusations, and homosexual implications. Before, Jay made a clever subliminal allusion to involvement with the mother of Nas's daughter, warning "You know who, did you know what With you know who, but just keep that between me and you (for now)". However, since Nas did not heed the warning, and instead made harsher and more sexual disses, Jay-Z decided that detailing his affair had become fair game. Therefore 'Supa Ugly' was full of scandalous imagery which some dismissed as a desperate low blow, but it was a logical course of action that Nas could have prevented.

About a year later, Jay-Z decided to make his victory more apparent, by ending the battle with more respectable and reflective lyrics. Jay-Z responds to Nas's criticism that he traded his soul for riches, by citing his own philanthropy in contrast to Nas's lack thereof. Jay goes on to discuss the fact that people believe Nas to be more artistic, conscious, poetic, or "real", for superficial reasons. He states that Nas's fans fall for his image: he appears to be wise because he wears kufi caps, and sounds deeper because of the vagueness of his lyrics.

Jay's lyrics were more original and didactic, and they were more critical than disparaging. His trilogy of tirades redefined how rappers approach battling, both offensively and defensively. As far as the results, Jay-Z summed it up best, "I've been real all my life, they confuse it with conceit, Since I will not lose, they try to help him cheat."

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Recession-Proof First Lady Footwear


First Lady Michelle Obama's footwear caused quite a stir as she volunteered at a Washington Food Bank drive. She wore a pair of tennis shoes designed by Lanvin, a French fashion line that has been around for over 100 years. The sneakers have also been worn by Ellen DeGeneres and Kanye West, and they have been selling out all Spring. Nevertheless, the First Lady has been singled out, because of the shoes' economically insensitive price tag of $540.
In December 2008, the National Bureau of Economic Research declared that the United States had been in a recession for a year. It has since become a global recession, infecting most of the industrialized world. In a recent Wall Street Journal survey, 52% of economists believe that the recession will last until August of this year. The Lanvin shoes are "certainly not a reflection of the poor economy," iMag Style Host Noelle Waters said. Obviously the state of the economy has caused the public to be more intolerant than usual regarding costly fashion choices. Although, the recession is not the only reason Mrs. Obama's kicks have struck a nerve.
Criticism has been particularly strong for the fact that she wore them while doing philanthropic work. Obama was bagging meals at the event sponsored by hunger relief group Feeding America, to help feed 1,000 low-income children in the D.C. area. Critics have pointed out that the money that would have been saved by purchasing more reasonably priced shoes, could have easily provided food to feed many more hungry people. Naturally, this has caused doubt in the sincerity of her charitable efforts.

In the past, Obama has been noted for her taste in affordable formal wear; like the $148 Donna Ricco dress she wore on ABC's "The View". She has even set a frugal example with wardrobe decisions for her daughters; Sasha Obama has been seen wearing a pair of Converse sneakers from Target which cost only $19.99.
Publications like the New York Daily News have suggested that she possibly acquired the shoes through Ikram, the Chicago based retailer that typically outfits her. Still it is possible that the shoes were purchased on sale, or even given to Obama as a gift. From a business standpoint, the $540 a brand would lose by giving a pair to Obama, would easily be overturned, since her endorsement has been the best promotion a designer could ask for as of lately. This was evident by the drastic rise in popularity that the economy-friendly J. Crew line experienced after she showed fondness for their clothing.
It is understandable why some felt disappointed or even offended by the footwear. That disappointment however, is a sign of a greater problem: the public dedicates too much attention and concern to the fashion of First Ladies. An anonymous writer echoed that notion on firstladies.org, "I believe, First Ladies have been reduced to 'fashion mannequins' thus making them of interest to a limited audience" they said. Additionally, the site recounts the legends that former First Ladies Nellie Taft and Julia Grant each had an affinity for flashy jewelry.

Michelle Obama has already faced comparison to past First Ladies. "Well, Jackie O better hold on to her pearls", Jaclyn Bethany of the Jackson Free Press quipped. "We have got a new Mrs. O on the scene, and she’s proving to be the nation’s leading fashionista. The whole nation seemed more abuzz about what Michelle Obama would wear on inauguration day than what President Obama would actually say in his inauguration speech", she added. A book was recently released in dedication to Obama's fashion sense entitled “Michelle Style, Celebrating the First Lady of Fashion”, by Mandi Norwood.
As the above poll points out, the public should take more interest in the contributions that Michelle Obama is making to society. She graduated from Princeton University and Harvard Law School, and is now one of only three First Ladies to ever hold a postgraduate degree. In 1993, she was the Executive Director of a non-profit organization encouraging young people to work on social issues. She has worked as an Associate Dean at the University of Chicago, and has worked for the University's Hospitals. In 2006 her salary was more than double that of her husband's. She cut back on her career, to campaign for Barack Obama, helping him become elected President. Since becoming First Lady she has visited homeless shelters and soup kitchens. She has also advocated public service and the organic movement.
Public fixation with First Lady fashion is what pressures them into flaunting extravagant wardrobes. The ladies feel obligated to live up to expectations, or simply avoid scrutiny. While many were hung up over the sneakers' price tag, several outlets such as Fox News were just as quick to mention that her top did not perfectly coordinate with the rest of her ensemble. In lieu of the recession, the fact that Obama wore the shoes is far less troubling than the fact that those shoes are now selling out as a result. Considering her impressive list of accomplishments and efforts, people should spend less time trying to look like Michelle Obama, and more time trying to be like her.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Daily Delver News Tease II


Daily Delver 2nd News Tease - Bryan Lloyd
Good morning, I’m Bryan Lloyd, broadcasting from Morgan State University, with your latest news from the Daily Delver. President Obama has vowed to help Mexico, along with their President, Felipe Calderon, fight its war against drugs."We are going to be dealing not only with drug interdiction coming north, but also working on helping to curb the flow of cash and guns going south," Obama stated. This U.S. offer of aide could not come at a more urgent time for the neighboring country, as it has been reported that Mexican gangs have implemented something of a drug cartel draft, recruiting innocent civilians by force. The international drug war, recently fought a local battle, when Victoria Carter, the head of a Baltimore city high school's special-education department was arrested on felony drug charges, after police seized at least $4,000 worth of cocaine from her home. In non-drug-related news, NBA champion, Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics, who led the franchise team to victory last year, could be out for the playoffs due to a knee injury. Lastly, will celebriality-mania hold up once Solange, Keisha Knight Pulliam, and Michael Vick all join the long list of stars, or former stars, who have their own show? We will have the details on that story and more when we return after these brief messages.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Daily Delver News Tease


Daily Delver News Tease - Bryan
Good morning, I’m Bryan Lloyd, broadcasting from Morgan State University, with your latest news from the Daily Delver. First off, the Obama administration plans to improve diplomacy by joining European and Asian allies in talks with Iran to block their development of a nuclear weapon. However, Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has stipulated, “If a hand has truly been extended with sincerity, based on justice and respect, Iran will welcome it. “If it’s a hand that is sincere in appearance and deep down dishonest, Iran’s answer will be the same as the one given to Mr. Bush.” Moreover, we have an update on the hostage situation where Somalian pirates are holding American Captian, Richard Phillips captive. In sports news, former star college basketball player, Marvin Webster, of the Morgan Bears, sadly passed away, just nine days shy of his 57th birthday. In local news, Baltimore’s oldest hospital, Bon Secours, which was first established in 1919, is facing closure. And in entertrainment news, did married-athlete Dwayne Wade of the Miami Heat, impregnate actress Gabrielle Union? We’ll have the details of that story and more when we return after these brief messages.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Najia: You can get with this, Or you can get with that


Najia McLean is a junior at Morgan State University. She is an English Major, with a concentration in journalism. Born in Newark, New Jersey, Najia found it easy to adjust to Baltimore. She says that the urban environments are similar, both positively and negatively; since she points out that each city has a high crime rate. Although she will always prefer her hometown; Najia has stated that she is considering a permanent residence in Baltimore. Najia plans on making journalism her professional occupation; she has already written for the "Union County Local Source" in NJ, and Morgan’s "The Promethean". I picked her brain with ten simple “either or” questions:
1. Democrat or Republican? Democrat
2. Basketball or Football? Basketball
3. NCAA or NBA? NBA
4.Morning classes or Evening Classes? Morning Classes
5. George W. Bush or George H. W. Bush? Neither
6. Mayor Sheila Dixon or Governor Martin O’Malley? Mayor Sheila Dixon
7. Newswriting I. or Newswriting II.? Newswriting I
8. English or Journalism? Journalism
9. R&B or Hip-Hop? R&B
10. Reality TV or Scripted TV? Reality


EitherOrInterview - BryanandNajia

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Are You in That Room Yet?



"Padded Room" Review - Bryan
Joe Budden? The "Pump It Up" guy? He's still rapping? Typical responses from hip-hop listeners unfamiliar with the mixtape scene. However, due to the critical acclaim of Budden's mixtapes, "Padded Room" was a highly anticipated release for his small cult-following.
Overall, "Padded Room" is one of the best albums of the year thus far. Yet it suffers from one of the typical shortcomings that prevent talented underground artists from making quality CDs. Mixtape artists tend to have strong punchlines and verses, but lack in songwriting ability. Budden has no problem with conceptualizing original topics, and showing levels of vulnerability rare in rap; but he seems to struggle with choruses.
Three of "Padded Room"s tracks completely skip any attempt at a chorus. Then again, unique songs like "In My Sleep", "Do Tell" and "Pray for Me" are so engaging that a chorus would probably only be disruptive and distracting. Five of the songs' choruses are supplied either by a sample or a featured singer. It occasionally works with cuts like the aggressive, experimental hard-rock fusion, aptly-titled "Adrenaline", which features the Junkyard Gang band. A song that audiences who can appreciate Linkin Park, should love; but it will probably be too grungy and hardcore for most of Budden's fans. On the other hand, R&B tracks like "Happy Holidays" and "The Future" feel too safe in their commercial attempts. In fact, the latter, which was the failed first single featuring Game, sticks out as the only song that is completely irrelevant and unfitting for this concept album; clearly the worst tune in the "Room".

"Now I Lay" gives the album a strong start; an up-tempo, high energy track, driven by the enthusiastic delivery of Budden's baritone vocals. This first track brings listeners up to speed on who he is and what he's gone through since releasing his only Top 40 hit, "Pump It Up". Throughout the album, Budden describes his unstable mind-state, using psychological self-evaluations. He explores his characteristics of insanity, via lucid dream analysis on "In My Sleep", and symbolic personification on tracks like "Exxxes". On the former, he recounts "Stuck in a room with [an] elephant, opened the closet and dappped up my skeleton." He shares his inability to fully understand the world, and vice versa. Furthermore, he describes his suicidal contemplations, feelings of guilt, and fears of death.
The last three tracks are exceptional. "Do Tell" is something of a will of messages for people and things that he will leave behind once he dies. He says "They say I'm difficult, so to put it simply, tell the world I never cared it was against me." "Angel in My Life", a dark, sinister track with haunting strings, best illustrates what the album is about. It features Budden rapping from a padded room in a straight jacket, frustrated about where his decisions have led him, expressing his fear that his end must be near. This is simultaneously the most serious track and the most amusing. The moody song features sound-bites of a conversation between two of Budden's friends describing the absurd situations that have led him to his insane asylum. The "Room" closes with "Pray For Me", a song that finds Budden facing "a Man with no face". He engages in dialogue with the Voice of God, as they discuss whether or not he deserves salvation. The scenario is supported by the song's echoic and atmospheric, organ-driven music. They converse, (God charges) "You robbed people, stole", (Budden answers) "Yeah, and You made me see jail", (to which God replies) "But I've also seen you lay your hands on a female."
Budden's openness and vulnerability help to make this an intriguing and enjoyable, focused work. 8.5/10

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Cop Pops Copp for Coppin' Pot


While the legalization of marijuana is still a highly controversial issue; a recent incident suggests that some police departments actually believe that harsher punishment should be administered to offenders.
20-year-old Grand Valley State Univ. Student, Derek Copp, was shot after being suspected of smoking marijuana in his off-campus apartment. Five West Michigan Enforcement Team Officers, who obtained a warrant to search for narcotics, raided the apartment last week at 9pm. An unnamed, 12-year-veteran deputy, shot the young man upon entering the apartment's sliding door.
According to his parents, Copp was shot when he raised his arm, shielding his eyes from a flashlight, unaware that it was an officer. Only one shot was fired but it left a life-threatening wound.
Neither the victim nor the shooter were arrested. Police have not revealed what drugs were searched for (or found, if any), nor have they explained the deputy's reasoning for opening fire on the unarmed man. The deputy is currently on paid leave.
Copp's parents stated, "From what I understand, half the kids in the school may smoke pot..." "but he's not a drug dealer. He's a good kid and he shouldn't have been shot for that." While it is unlikely that smoking marijuana in the U.S. will be legalized anytime soon, taking a bullet is far too severe a punishment.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Third Wheel Revealed


The latest piece added to the Chrianna puzzle, is Brown's manager, Tina Davis. According to TMZ, sources have ID'd Davis as the home-wrecking texter responsible for the three-page message sent to Brown's cell phone. The 39-year-old manager was rumored to have had a relationship with the singer at the beginning of his career, and the message in question discussed her hooking up with Brown later. This presumably led to the "SOS" singer's slap, which then resulted in Brown's brutal beat-down.
Whether or not Davis served as the catalyst for the star couple's tumultuous tussle, the ensuing incident cannot be justified. However, this new element may provide insight into Brown's psyche. He is not the first young singer who's manager has been suspected of sexual coercion. The former managers of B2K and 'N Sync have been similarly accused.
Brown, currently an accused felon, is clearly the perpetrator in his case with Rihanna, but he too has possibly been victimized. While that possibility should have no affect on the verdict of his current trial, it should affect the public perception of Brown. Davis' relationship with Brown should be investigated. Cases of coercion in which boys are subjected, must not be trivialized because the consequences can be catastrophic.

Monday, March 9, 2009

Heterophobia?


Veteran actor, Sean Penn, won his second Oscar on Feb 22, for his portrayal of Harvey Milk, San Francisco's first openly gay city supervisor. Penn, who is also a political activist, partially used his acceptance speech to voice his opinion on the controversial passing of California's Proposition 8.
"I think that it is a good time for those who voted for the ban on gay marriage, to sit and reflect, and anticipate their great shame and the shame in their grandchildren's eyes, if they continue that way of support. We got to have equal rights for everyone," he asserted.
The passing of Prop 8 on Nov 4, 2008, stirred much controversy and prompted several protests from gay-marriage supporters. Although media attention had drastically decreased since the initial response, Penn's proclamation has revitalized the Prop 8 controversy.
Currently the California Supreme Court is hearing a legal dispute over whether or not the proposition was unconstitutional; if determined to have been, it shall be overturned by early June. Moreover, a new petition that aims to reverse the Prop 8 decision by replacing every instance of the word "marriage" with "domestic partnership" in California Law, will qualify for the ballot if it acquires the signatures of 694,354 registered voters by Aug 6, 2009.
While gay marriage is a provocative issue to which every individual is entitled their own respective opinion on; Sean Penn is the latest high-profile advocate to attach false assumptions to the opposing side. By stating that opponents will bare shame in the future, he suggests that anyone who voted in favor of Prop 8, only did so out of an unapologetic disdain for and or an irrational fear of homosexuals. This has been a popular generalization used in the attempt to attack the credibility of opponents to same-sex marriage. It conveniently denies any possibility that an individual can actually believe that "marriage" as an institution, in its true and original denotation and connotation, can only exist between consenting members of opposite gender.

The notion that opposition to same-sex marriage is indicative of homophobia, is invalidated by the fact that even some homosexuals are against gay marriage. According to the CNN exit poll, 4% of homosexual voters were in favor of Prop 8. Elton John, perhaps the most prominent and well-respected openly gay artist, was adamant in expressing his disapproval of the gay marriage rally.
"We're not married. Let's get that right. We have a civil partnership," he shared, describing his relationship with longtime partner, David Furnish. "What is wrong with Proposition 8 [attackers] is that they went for marriage. Marriage is going to put a lot of people off, the word marriage," John concluded. "I don't want to be married. I'm very happy with a civil partnership. If gay people want to get married, or get together, they should have a civil partnership. You get the same equal rights that we do when we have a civil partnership. Heterosexual people get married. We can have civil partnerships."
PhotobucketJohn acknowledges the significance of the word "marriage", and hints at the connotation that it was implemented exclusively for man and woman. Secondly, he expresses his graciousness for having a civil partnership, because he realizes how generously accommodating such unions are. Civil unions were first established in Denmark, 1989, for the sole purpose of affording some of the rights, benefits, and responsibilities designated for married couples, to homosexual couples. Though marital benefits were originally only intended for wedded straight couples, the specifications of civil unions in some countries provide the exact same benefits as those granted in marriages.
Despite the accommodating efforts of civil unions, some critics, such as activist, Dr Marilyn Waring, have highlighted the close similarity between civil unions and marriage, to argue that civil unions exemplify a "separate but equal" practice. Technically, however, this equality argument, which Penn echoed, does not correspond to the marriage issue. A straight man has the right to marry a woman with whom he has a consensual and mutual relationship; but at most he would have the right to create a civil union with another man. A gay man's rights would allow him the exact same options; therefore, this cannot be considered a division or separation of rights.
PhotobucketAnother pertinent offense Penn made during his speech came in his reference to President Barack Obama. "I'm very, very proud to live in a country that is willing to elect an elegant man president," Penn added. By "elegant man", Penn of course meant a "qualified black man". This tactic of relating African Americans to homosexuals, and assimilating their respective struggles, has long been overtly misused by supporters of homosexuality. Seemingly whenever a "gay rights" issue arises, an advocate argues by substituting "gay" with "black", based on the belief that race relations have progressed farther than sexual relations. Nevertheless, this is an unbalanced comparison, due to the debate over whether or not sexual orientation is a choice. As a straight man, I could argue that I choose to be interested in women, as opposed to inheriting a yet to be scientifically-identified heterosexual genotype from birth. Contrarily, I could not debate over whether or not I was born black, because that is a fact.
In conclusion, the issue over gay marriage, and marriage in general, is highly controversial, and will likely continue to be provocative. Presently, same-sex marriage is not lawfully recognized anywhere in the United States except for Massachusetts, but that is subject to change. Regardless of what the future for American marriage holds, it must be understood that respectable stances can be taken on either side, and bigotry should never be an assumed motivation for either stance.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

The Dark Side of Sleep Deprivation


Imagine waking up on the floor, outside of your shower, with a bloody chin, several chipped teeth, and no recollection of what happened or how long ago it happened. Would you assume that such a frightening situation could have been the result of sleep deprivation?
Model/ College of William and Mary Freshman, Erika Lloyd need not imagine, she experienced the grim scenario this past Sunday. She had been doing exceptionally well in her classes and on exams, but long hours of studying began to replace essential hours of sleep.
Photobucket
Seven of the 19-year-old's teeth were either chipped or broken. "It felt like I had some peppermint candy in my mouth, but once I spit it out, I realized that it was small chips of my teeth", she explained.
Lloyd recalled feeling extremely weak following the incident, and began suffering from migraine headaches.
Sleep deprivation is common amongst students, especially college freshman. Students in their late teens or early 20s should get around nine hours of sleep each night. However, a National Sleep Foundation survey revealed that the average student only sleeps for about 6.8 hours nightly.
A 1997 University of Minnesota study discovered that students whose classes started later, got more sleep and earned better grades. Five years ago, Duke University eliminated its earliest classes, and considered orientation programs that would educate freshman on the importance of sleep.
Teenagers have the ability to resist sleep better than adults, due to a developmental variation in the circadian cycle. Although, the more one pushes the limit of sleep deprivation, the more risks they take.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Phoenix's Peculiar Presence


Actor Joaquin Phoenix's 02/11 appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman was memorably eccentric. He wore long hair, a Grizzly Adams-styled beard, and dark sunglasses. He seemed self-absorbed and disinterested with the interview, as he frequently looked down, offereing two-word-answers in between chews of gum. At one point, Letterman jokingly expressed his disapproval of Phoenix's chewing during the interview; to which Phoenix responded by removing the gum, and preceding to stick it to the bottom of Letterman's desktop.
The host and his audienced were hysterically humored by the actor's behavior. Confused by their reaction, Pheonix asked Letterman, "What do you gas them up with?" Late Show Bandleader, Paul Shaffer, laughed mockingly when Letterman asked Phoenix to setup his movie clip, prompting Phoenix to explicitly ask "Are you serious, Mr. Maniacal Laughter".
Addiction Medicine Specialist, Dr. David Pensky, believes Phoenix's appearance suggested "intoxication, or severe psychiatric condition, such as depression". Some have reacted to Phoenix's behavior with concern, others with amusement; those familiar with Phoenix are more likely to fall into the latter category.
He once asked a red-carpet reporter if he had a "large frog in [his] hair", simply because he was bored. He commented on the incident saying "I made it up. It entertained me. I do a lot of that kind of thing." That incident, years ago, similarly left some thinking he was insane.
His latest incident has even more signs of a hoax. First of all, he breaks character twice during the interview: he laughs when the host expresses his disappointment that the actor did not show up; and once the interview is over, Phoenix jumps up and takes off his glasses, talking to Letterman more freely. If that were not telling enough, he and friend Casey Affleck are reportedly working on a documentary about the actor's alleged transition from acting to rapping.

Monday, February 16, 2009

An Artistic Bailout


In this time of economic crisis, the government is dealing out money left and right. Obviously the Obama administration is simply attempting to clean up the financial mess left by its predecessor; but ever since Bush proposed his late-term $700 billion plan, everyone has been looking for a handout. The auto industry, which received billions in bailout money, is now pleading for more. Moreover, there are presently pending plans, aiming to help banks, homeowners, etc., that total nearly a trillion dollars. While so many industries crucial to the American economy are failing, the 'arts' is the last place the government should consider investing in,... right?
Wrong, but that is an easy oversight to make at first glance. Even certain members of congress have been unable to see how the $50 million stimulus bill for the National Endowment for the Arts could benefit the U.S. economy in its current state. Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) argued that the money being offered with this bill would be put to better use if it went towards the funding of a road project. He suggests that such a project would create more job opportunities for average middle class workers who are currently struggling. Although, what Jack fails to realize is that the arts industry employs at least 3 million workers in non-artistic jobs, such as: accountants, carpenters, electricians, janitors, publicists, etc..
Christopher Knight, of the Los Angeles Times, pinpointed the reason why people like Kingston have a misconception about the arts industry, in his argument "Arts Jobs are Real Jobs". He explained that the celebrity culture of the arts industry has created the distorted perception that everyone in the biz is a glamorous artist. "Celebrity culture teaches us to equate the arts with fame, fame with success, success with money.", Knight suggested. The truth is there are plenty of job opportunities for working class citizens in the arts industry, even during a crisis.
$50 million for the NEA would be money well invested, but the NEA should be required to outline their plans on how to use the money to help the economy; as should all recipients of such packages. Greed exists even in times of need. Agence France-Presse exposed this sad truth in its article "Merrill Bonuses Made 696 Millionaires: Probe". Sometimes when company heads actually receive the help (millions or billions of government dollars) that their businesses need, they become sidetracked...and begin to weigh their options: distribute funds to employees according to need and thereby help to stimulate the economy, or enable rich board members and close executives to purchase new jets (decisions, decisions). Merrill Lynch and Bank of America are appropriately being investigated now by the New York state Attorney General's office, but now is too late. Conditions must be dictated before money is dispensed, because a rushed reaction to recession will only dig a deeper debt.
The request made by Grammy academy President, Neil Portnow, for a new cabinet position dedicated to the arts and culture, may have been too far fetched, but President Obama's proposal of $50 million for the arts should do the trick for the time being.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Is Individualism Dead?


In "Network", Howard Beale convinced 6 million of his viewers to write to the White House to stop a deal that was going to allow an Arab takeover of the Communication Corporation of America. In the following episode he described the act as a "radiant eruption of democracy", but he predicted that the success of the protest was not a sign of things to come. He argued that Democracy was dead, and that people were becoming dehumanized assembly line workers in a world of corporations, rather than nations. Beale's speech was inspired and influenced by the scolding lecture he received from Arthur Jensen, (who presumably was the head of the conglomerate that owned UBS), after Beale "meddled with the primal forces of nature" by stopping the Arab deal.
The point that Beale and Jensen made was that individuals were losing their power and value, but then Beale asked his audience to consider if dehumanization was good or bad. Obviously there is something wrong with humans becoming inhuman; in fact, before Beale was lectured by Jensen, 'individualism' was one of his show's premier preaching points. Jensen managed to convince him that "it is the international system of currency, which determines the totality of life on this planet." When in actuality, it is the poor management of currency, that leads to financial crises, which then encourages desperate and needy individuals to become dehumanized pawns for large corporations.
In a time when the media is dominated and controlled by just a handful of conglomerates, it is difficult for an individual with a unique vision to a rise. However, just as Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum has been able to transform his deserted hometown into a thriving city invested in the success of each of its citizens, the same is possible in journalism. Today's journalists have to be willing to take risks, and question or even expose apparent shady dealings by powerful entities, for the uninformed individual's sake. Aquiring knowledge is an interactive task, therefore news organizations must encourage feedback from their consumers. They should take advantage of the 'letter to the editor' feature and put more emphasis on it. Moreover, as the internet is becoming the leading medium in journalism, blogging is on the rise as an effective way for individuals to infiltrate and impact news coverage. As a matter of fact, there is even a popular online show called "Meet the Bloggers" that highlights unconventional opinions of various individuals. In reflection, today's individual only dies if he or she does not choose to live.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Did DuBois Forewarn About Chris Brown?


Sunday night's airing of the 51st annual Grammys Award Show ran smoothly, with the exception that two notable guests were MIA. Chris Brown and Rihanna were both scheduled to perform; however, he was arrested on suspicion of making criminal threats, and she was allegedly victimized by him. He turned himself in at the LAPD's Wilshire Station and is being investigated on charges of domestic violence. It came as no surprise that Wrigley suspended their Doublemint Gum ads that featured Brown, but the actual allegations were shocking. However, we should ask ourselves "why is this shocking?".
Naturally, there is an element of shock concerning any incident where a man beats a woman, but especially in situations like this. MTV asked people on the street what they thought about the story, and they made comments like "You would've never thought Chris Brown, a superstar...would be beating females down" and "he doesn't seem like the type". But, why? Why do we expect anyone to be an ideal man or role model simply because they have become rich and famous from singing and dancing. W.E.B. DuBois warned about the danger of this in his 1903 essay "The Talented Tenth".
"If we make money the object of man-training, we shall develop money-makers but not necessarily men", Dubois declared. Although those words were published over a century ago, they are particularly pertinent today. In modern society, we frequently exhalt select individuals and put them on a pedestal for the wrong reasons; and we subsequently hold them to unrealistic expectations. He believed that real men could only be developed if boys were educated on 'manhood', which to DuBois, encompassed intelligence, broad sympathy, and knowledge of the way of the world.
"The Talented Tenth" discusses DuBois's idea that a small percentage of African American men will have to become "leaders of thought" and "missionaries of culture" to save the race. Based on this notion, there is nothing wrong in supporting individuals for their entertainment talents, but we should not look to them as the kind of leaders that DuBois describes, solely based on those talents.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Electronic Waste Causes Environmental Hazards


As the production of electronics has increased, so has the amount of electronic waste. One of the major problems with e-waste is that much of it is shipped from developed nations like the U.S., to developing countries like China, India and Nigeria. Approximately 50 tons of e-waste is produced globally every year. In towns like Guiyu and Nanyang of Southern China, people work to dispose of electronic waste, not in factories, but near their own homes. Earning around $12 a day, these workers, of various ages, often burn the waste, which creates harmful exposure to toxic chemicals. Professor Qua has studied the effects that burning e-waste has on babies and children. She has found that her subjects have blood led levels about 25% higher than normal, which has negative effects on nervous systems and learning abilities. However, she did point out that these effects have decreased in recent years, since local media has forced the government to pay more attention. Although mutations have increased by 40% since 2001 due to electronic waste.
On May 22, 1989, the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal was opened for signature. There were 170 parties in attendance to the convention, and of all of the parties only Afghanistan, Haiti, and the U.S. signed the convention without ratifying it. Out of the three countries, the U.S. is the only developed nation. The U.S. is one of the biggest contributors of e-waste to countries like China, therefore ratification by the U.S. would be most significant in improving the current dituation. The fact that the U.S. still has not done so suggests that the nation agrees that the exportation of these wastes to developing countries is unfair, but finds continuance of this practice to be more convenient. Obviously, exporting to developing nations where cheap labor is available is more profitable for American companies. Furthermore, it removes the potential environmental harm that naturally exists with the disposal of electronic products, by putting that burden on poor workers in other countries.
Greenpeace is a political organization that suggests that the exportation of any and all electronics should be banned, since the residue from such products has caused so many environmental problems, and consequently, health problems. However, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development disagrees, making the reasonable argument that exportation of electronics is still useful for trades involving repairs and recycling.
Assuming that exportation will continue, there are still positive changes that can be made to alleviate the level of health risks faced by e-waste disposers. There still needs to be strict ratification and enforcement of laws regarding the setting and process of disposing, recycling or repairing electronics, if there is expected to be any turnaround in the negative effects of the current process. There needs to be laws requiring that electronics be treated in a factory, rather than in residential areas; and workers should be provided with gear and equipment that will ensure there safety and well being while working.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Frost/Nixon: Sheen/Langella


"When the President does it, that means that it is not illegal"; one of the most shocking statements ever made by a U.S. President, was declared by Richard Nixon during his groundbreaking interviews with David Frost. In the future, this quote may gain additional historical importance; as it may also be remembered as a thrilling and pivotal scene in arguably, the best film of 2008. The infamous line was dramatically delivered by Frank Langella in his impeccable portrayal of the disgraced politician.

Frost/Nixon is a docudrama based on the true story surrounding the infamous interviews. David Frost was a flamboyant British talk-show host, and Nixon was an arrogant, yet bitter former President. Frost/Nixon succeeds on many levels; one, it is a political history lesson that is equally informative and entertaining. Secondly, it shows the power, importance and influence that strong journalism can garner. Thirdly, it is a balanced and insightful examination of the title characters, largely due to the exceptional performances by Michael Sheen as Frost, and Langella as Nixon. The film reveals the qualities and shortcomings of each man; enabling the viewer to admire them in their hard-fought accomplishments, and to empathize with them in their difficult defeats.