I’m seemingly the only person I know that can’t stand Bob Dylan and his “I have a clothes pin on my nose and only know two chords” music. But what we talked about in class is his lyrics, which is usually the only thing that anyone can talk about. Dylan obviously is noted as a great poet, expressing unrest with politics and political action of the time. We were asked as a class why we don’t see these sort of super-politically charged lyrics anymore, and if we like these lyrics. I can’t answer for the class, but I can answer for me.

The answer is simple to why we don’t see the lyrics anymore: nobody wants to hear it, including myself. I listen to a very VERY broad range of music; anything from Grindcore to Jazz to Rap to Folk. The only genre that I still hear consistent political lyrics in is the highly unpopular punk sub-genre of Crust Punk. Crust punk bands spend months researching before they write lyrics, probably leading to their unpopular, fact-based leftist lyrics. Love songs in commercial are obviously still prominent, and always will be, because people can relate. Creative lyrics that leave the listener guessing what they are about have also become extremely popular in rock genres. In the hip hop and rap I listen to, its about their concern about where rap is going, their love for their music, and good times. In folk, its about love and love for nature.

The problem with politics, is that no one cares about them. I don’t care, and I don’t want to hear it in songs. I grew up listening to ultra political bands like the Dead Kennedys, but I’d much rather hear something more creative than an embellished form of “the government sucks.” I’ve heard that a thousand and a half times. Its boring, everyone has heard it, its no longer a surprise, we’ve grown accustomed and apathetic. For example, right now, as I write this, I am listening to an concept album by Dead Man’s Bones, about the supernatural and the process of death. Maybe a bit gloomy, but quite interesting. This is much more interesting to youth than people dying overseas. We hear that everyday on the news.

There is a possibility that I am wrong. I do not really keep up with mainstream music. But I do have 500 gigabytes of music, and I have listened to most of it. To show examples of groups that I have referenced but not mentioned in this post, I’ve made a short list below.

Crust: Aus Rotten, Antischism                               Folk: Sufjan Stevens, Orba Squara

Rap: People Under The Stairs, MF Doom           Indie: Charolette Gainsbourg, Firey Furnaces

Jazz Influence: Blockhead, Free The Robots

Electronica: Massive Attack, Thievery Corporation

Punk: TSOL, Anti-Product

When I saw there are two of every station, I mean two different stations play such similar music that they are almost copies. In LA, for classic rock, we have 95.5 KLOS, 100.3 KSWD, and arguably 93.1 KCBS (JACK FM, which used to be Arrow, which was exactly like KLOS). For “new” 98.7 KYSR and 106.7 KROQ. For top 40, 102.7 KIIS and 97.1 KAMP.  For Hip Hop, 93.5 KDAY and 105.9 KPWR. There are 13 Regional Mexican/Spanish Contemporary/Spanish Oldies Stations. You get my point.

The new music stations KROQ and KYSR, play their newest music from the french indie band, Phoenix and their album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. The album came out in may 2009, and its still one of the most played on the stations. occasionally they do a good job grabbing new material (i.e. Them Crooked Vultures, Vampire Weekend), but note that the most played band on KROQ is still Nirvana and only 4 out of 10 of the top played songs on STAR have come out in the last year.

Stations that look promising at first either give up on what they set out to do, get off the air, or both. An example of a station is 103.1 Indie, which set out to play non-mainstream music. At first, they did a fantastic job. Within two years they quickly changed their ways to a KROQ format. Within 5 years and a month, they were off the air. The Sound, 100.3 set out to play album oriented rock. They have become a classic rock hit station, exactly like KLOS. They have album sides Wednesdays, where they play an old vinyl (and used to be obscure) record. I’ve heard the same albums over and over again. Even the world famous KROQ was playing something different in the 80′s, but they have become a top 40 of rock station.

My favorite stations are 88.9 KXLU (LMU broadcast) and 89.9 KCRW (SMC broadcast). First of all because I hear music there that one, I’ve never heard before, and two, I’ll never hear anywhere else. There are no commercials on these stations. The DJ’s are insightful, giving background and inside information of bands and albums. Both stations also host many live studio sessions and interviews with bands. This is what I think radio should be like, and a symbol of how far radio’s drifted away from what it would like to do. Unfortunately, nothing will change in radio until the majority of listeners are as fed up as I am. But, considering that the ultra commercial giant KIIS is still the most popular radio station in Los Angeles, it seems most people aren’t fed up at all.

Football is such a important part of the culture in New Orleans. It is their oldest sports team (there’s only one other professional team there), and their most prominent. Not only are the Saint’s especially meaningful, but the Saint’s stadium, the Super Dome, was the city’s biggest refuge during the Katrina disaster.

For the year of 2005, ‘Nawlins was a mess, in 2006, Drew Brees was acquired by the Saints after an injury that came at the end of a pro bowl season. Also in 2006, Reggie Bush, the Heisman winner of the year, was drafted by New Orleans. All of the sudden, the Saints (who’ve been in the NFL since 1967), had turned their franchise around.

Drew Brees is the leader of the high powered Saints offense and the face of the franchise. Brees constantly addresses the fact that the Saints play and provide for the city and has donated more than 500,000 of his own dollars to the recovery process. Obviously, his efforts are appreciated when one of the most popular bumper stickers in New Orleans is “Drew Orleans.”

In 2009, the Saints acquired Darren Sharper, a veteran pro bowler, who has become the leader and spokesman of the defense. With a rebuilt defense, the Saint’s look to challenge who some say is the greatest quarterback of all time, Peyton Manning. If the Saint’s win the Super Bowl, it would be very representative of the city’s struggle to overcome the hurricane and rebuild completely. Until then, we can only wait and see.

This X Games, although I thoroughly enjoyed the competition and watching all the events, I was disheartened and disappointed in the direction the X-Games are headed. Huge corporate sponsors, that have absolutely nothing to do with winter sports, or even sports in general, are sponsoring riders and the X Games as a whole. sponsors like Monster, Red Bull, Jeep, US Navy, Taco Bell, and State Farm were listed as some of the top sponsors for the event. At first, I thought, great, more sponsors means more money and more publicity. It became clear to me that the events had been geared to make sure that the sponsors could advertise as much as possible. For example, on the side of the superpipe for snowboarding and skiing, Monster and Red Bull logos everywhere. On the rider’s bibs, Jeep. At the end of the run, the riders take off their equipment, and shove the stickers on their skis/boards in the camera. Then they were promptly handed a mountain dew or monster or any sponsor’s drink to sip before heading to the top. Even on the podium riders would sip sponsor drinks.

Maybe this is a good thing, because the games will receive so much more support. But for me, its the end of an era. Another failed attempt by the underground to get into the mainstream, but keep the underground embedded in their foundation. Below, I have a link to a picture of the podium after an event.

http://www.snowboardermag.com/features/Winter-X-Games-13-Slopestyle-Mens-Podium.jpg

Luke told me that his son is in the military and he is in Haiti helping with the relief effort. He operates a helicopter that makes food drops for the hundreds of thousands without food. Allegedly his son’s helicopter was taking ground fire from local Haitians, and when they landed, there were 47 bullet holes/marks in the chopper. He also told me that men with guns stand around the food drops and take all of the food and water and no one else gets any.

Then we proceeded to talk about how the operation methods of the military aid effort are failing. Obviously, its impossible for a regular civilian to understand the circumstances and needs in Haiti, but we all felt like the situation could be approached more efficiently and fairly. Perhaps instead of dropping crates of food and water off, rationing the supplies out to all in need. Implementing almost like a cafeteria type of system, but having multiple lines to minimize waiting time. Armed guards would ensure safety and eliminate the problem of armed civilians taking all the supplies. Haitians would eat nearby in places patrolled by guards so that fighting couldn’t escalate once food was being consumed.

Another problem is that all of the prisoners in the prison system have escaped and are running freely on the streets. Granted, many of these prisoners are probably political prisoners, and didn’t deserve to be there in the first place, but many are violent offenders that could potentially cause more problems for the volunteers, civilians,  and military personnel in Haiti. We didn’t have a solution for that problem, but having armed guards at food rationing stations would help keep violence to a minimum.

These are clearly just suggestions we came up with in five or so minutes, and they maybe the worst ideas possible for the situation. What really struck me about Luke’s story though, is that this seems to be the third time (9/11 and Katrina being the others) where the military and the Red Cross have been involved and problems have bad problems occurred during their efforts. To me, it looks like its time for these big organizations to reassess their operation process and find a better way to deal the the disasters that they are faced with.

I have been involved with hardcore and straight edge since I was 12 years old. I owned a small hardcore clothing company, here in Los Angeles. We promoted bands and shows. I’ve met all the big promoters, record label representatives, and a countless number of bands. At 19, I am older than more than half the straight edge population.

Maybe then, it is fitting that I am now sickened by what I see in the scene that I once loved more than anything. When I was growing up in the hardcore scene, we were expected to learn where we came from. To listen to the bands that started what we now enjoy, and to gain a respect and understanding of hardcore values and roots. Most of us started out listening to punk music, and came over to hardcore, looking for a more positive vibe and a more advanced music. Hardcore in LA dried up in 2003, all of our major bands called it quits. Nonetheless, for several years since, there have been many kids who play in solid bands and tried to relight the fire.

Nowadays when I go to a “hardcore” show, I usually end up seeing some kids who think they are the hardest thing to come out since Rambo. Kids who are looking for trouble, and bands who promote it. Not only that, but the bands have lost touch with what hardcore truly is and means. Many of the bands have come from the metal scene, and thats what they play. They play mindless metal, tune down to D or C, two chords, with mindless lyrics. The kids who are being brought up in the hardcore scene today have no respect those who have come before them, and the values that have been in the scene since it started in the 80′s.

To someone like myself, who has so much invested in hardcore, this is a knife to the heart. I will never be ashamed to state my beliefs and where I’ve come from. But the longer the hardcore scene continues this way, the more I disassociate myself from it. My beliefs are as strong as they were when I signed on as a pre-teen. But all of the veterans like me only have a couple bands left standing to hold onto. There are  bands that will always be there and have been since the 80′s or 90′s, and are continuing to try to get the scene back on track. But a lot of kids like me, are getting sick of trying and are giving up.

To me, this is reflective of exactly what’s happened in society for the last, who knows how long. The young set fires to what the old have built and instilled. They have no respect for the predecessors and seemingly have no shame in that. At my age, I clearly see the cliché problem that elderly people complain about, and sympathize deeply with them. Maybe this is a long shot comparison, but to me it makes perfect sense. As for a solution, maybe the legendary band, Bane, had it right.

“Can We Start Again”

Can we start again
Go back to what it meant back then
Open minds and open hearts
The things that set us apart
Was it more than words
And do they still apply
And do you still believe
Well so do I
I was a 15 year old kid
With nowhere to fit in
I just wanted to skate
Listen to my Suicidal tape
When someone told me about a place
Where the strange were accepted
And judged by what’s inside
A scene of truly open minds
Somewhere, somehow, everything has changed
Look at what we’ve gotten ourselves caught up in
The same mindless clicks
The same high school shit
All the walls you scream about breaking down
I’ve watched you build brick by brick
Do you still believe-I do
Look beyond the 3 chords that fill your lives
Look beyond the gossip and the lies
Beyond the dullest of outsides
Look beyond
Try harder
See what’s inside this burning in my heart
Born under the same songs that you know
But our blood will never blend
Until you let those doors go

Everyone knows that Haiti is an impoverished, undeveloped, and internally conflicted country, yet before this earthquake, very few of us cared. Before the quake, not once was I asked to donate money to Haiti. In fact, I never saw anything in our media about it.

How bad was the situation in Haiti before the January 12th earthquake? I went to the CIA’s world fact book to find out. Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere; 80% of the population lives below the poverty line. “Haiti suffers from high inflation, a lack of investment because of insecurity and limited infrastructure, and a severe trade deficit.” “More than two-thirds of the labor force do not have formal jobs;” unemployed by US standards. In 2008, Haiti was in $1.817 billion US dollars in debt and “the government relies on formal international economic assistance for fiscal sustainability.” On top of all this, South American narcotic traffickers favor Haiti for drug smuggling and financial activity due to the country’s “pervasive corruption.”

How long has Haiti been suffering this way? Since the early 1900′s, most noted in 1915 when the nation’s president was seized and murdered by an angry mob.

My point is that as horrible and wretched as the recovery from the earthquake is, it is providing Haiti with much needed media attention. I do not believe that the earthquake put Haiti in a better position than they were in before, but I do believe that if there is one positive, media attention is it. Bringing the Haitian situation to our media brings it to the attention of all the US, and to the rest of the world. Hopefully, we will continue to strive for a better Haiti after the earthquake relief effort has come to a close. Because if there is one thing that the media has proved to us, its that Haiti needs our help now, and will continue to in the future.

As I was scrolling through the article, I realized that my issue with this article goes back to something we talked about in a very early class discussion. We had to respond to the questions: “what is news,” and “what makes news important?” To me, the more important story is the outcome of the matches and what the players wear is really not a story at all. The author obviously thought the same thing, seeing how his comments limited to a short sentence at most on each picture.

The most important thing about this story to me, is that it was the first story to pop up on yahoo; the first thing you see. It was supposed to be the equivalent of a newspaper’s front page headline.  On top of all that, It was three slots before the most useful and important article titled, “Must-Know 2010 Tax Changes.”

Maybe “The Best and Worst Fashions at the 2010 Australian Open” is just a product of staff writers desperate to make a headline, or maybe its a product of consumer interest. Either way, it seems to me that this is another example of the media focusing on useless and unimportant tales.

http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/blog/busted_racquet/post/The-best-and-worst-fashions-at-the-2010-Australi?urn=ten,214831

The Fresco Menu consists of seven items none of which have more than 8 grams of fat or 340 calories. The lower fat content in the fresco items is due to the replacement of cheese and sauces with pico de gallo. This is Taco Bell’s version of health food.

The problem with the ad, is even though there is print at the bottom of the screen that says the fresco menu is not a weight loss program itself, they are advertising as one. They also say in the add that Christine’s results aren’t typical, but Taco Bell advertises her weight loss as typical. The biggest problem with the add is that it actually isn’t healthy at all.

Christine Dougherty lost weight because she cut her daily caloric intake to 1,250. It is widely stated in the health world that generally, if you intake less than 1,500 calories a day, weight will be lost and if you intake more than 3,000 calories a day, weight will be gained. Not only was Christine’s caloric intake exceptionally low, but she was exercising daily. This presents another crack in the story.

First, a quick biochemistry lesson. What causes people to be fat is not necessarily fat itself, although trans fat especially can add on weight. The reason why people think that the fat in food is what causes weight gain is because of the name. It is true that per gram of fat there is 9 calories, and in a gram of protein and a gram of carbohydrate alike there is only 4 calories. But fat intake is needed to burn fat, and calorie are not the sole reason for weight gain and actually, calories are a minor detail in weight gain. The quality of the calories is what counts, especially in the kingdom of carbohydrates. Simple carbs are what most people consider “bad carbs”; enriched white or wheat flour, bleached flour, rice, ect. Simple carbs are ideal after a work out because they are digested quicker than complex carbs (whole grains, buckwheat, fruit) and they are the first source needed for muscle replenishment. Also, after a workout the metabolism level is higher than it is other times throughout the day. If simple carbs are eaten anytime other than before or after  a workout, the body doesn’t need the energy provided by the insulin spike created by the carbs, and all of those calories are stored as fat in the body.

Ironic then, that 6 of 7 items on Taco Bell’s fresco menu are wrapped in a soft tortilla. The first ingredient listed on Taco Bell’s website for their tortillas is enriched bleached wheat flour. Enriched flour is widely considered one of the worst ingredients for weight loss diets, along with corn syrup. Not to mention, the extremely high sodium levels won’t help the blood pressure of someone trying to lose weight.

Besides being extremely frustrated at the facts being covered up by the food industry in America, I am absolutely appalled that Taco Bell is calling the Fresco Menu “healthy.” Eating off the menu and keeping a 2,000 calorie a day diet would lead to body fat increase. Maybe its just the “health freaks” like myself that are sick of the misleading advertisements for healthy food, but either way its not fair to the rest of the country.

Palin will analyze and comment on political happenings for Fox. She will also host episodes of “Real American Stories,” where true inspirational stories of Americans prevailing over hardship. Palin is excited about her new job opportunity, stating “it’s wonderful to be part of a place that so values fair and balanced news.”

Fox News has been criticized for their alleged pro right-wing bias. Online non-profit, Media Matters for America cataloged several outrageous bias examples and recent documentary Outfoxed also exploited the Fox bias. President Barack Obama also commented on Fox News saying that they are more of a radio talk show, and White House Officials have said that Fox is “not a news network.”

Luckily for America, Sarah Palin seems to be the perfect candidate to bring balance to the conservative cast of Fox News. This is the Sarah Palin (republican) that served as the Governor of Alaska, ran as GOP candidate John McCain’s Vice President in 2008,  chaired the Alaska Gas and Oil Conservation Commission, promoted oil and natural gas development in Alaska (including drilling Arctic National Wildlife Refuge), and opposes stem-cell research, same-sex marriage, and abortion.

Certainly, Sarah Palin seems like the perfect choice for Fox. Following the deep-rooted tradition at Fox, Palin will not bring balance to the news station. Obviously Murdoch is not willing to change and is not afraid of continuing media criticism. As for the rest of America, we will continue to be exposed to Fox’s right-wing news as they continue to expand their notorious cast of commentators and show hosts.