This is the end..........(CBC RESPONSE)

YEAH RIGHT......that's what i've got to say first and foremost. The media is probably the most transient and illusive form of technology that has ever existed and rather than eliminating any form of media, radio television and print continue to innovate and integrate themselves into one another.

The internet has experienced a massive surge in the last two decades but irrespective so have radio, television, and print.

Radio has had its humble beginnings, first used in military operations for commanders to contact one another during times of war and then after transitioned into the live radio feeds that we have today. Sirius radio exploded a couple of years back, allowing listeners to tune into their favourite radio broadcasts worldwide, connecting to satellites orbiting in outer space. God how technology has changed, and sure it might be a little un-nerving to think when it's all going to "end", but radio will always have a place in society as a means of listening intuitively. Sure video broadcasts such as television give stimulate us visually and audibly, but relative stats show over 1 billion listeners worldwide, and in canada an average of 6 stations are tuned into by listeners every week. The demand is there, and it's definitely a medium that's not going anywhere. Satellite radio is the future, and it's here to stay.

How about television? I keep seeing those annoying ads warning us of the impending doom and the forthcoming switch by television companies from analog to digital television. Boo hoo, so your not going to be able to use your old analog television

But who needs analog anyway? Analog was the past, this is the future of television

I'm talking about 64 inch plasma screens with personal t.v. where you can
tape and record live television watching your favourite progamming over and
over again. Now tell me.....does that sound like a medium that's going anywhere?
GIMME A BREAK

And of course there's print......now i'm no religious fanatic but when you consider that this book is probably older than anybody in your family times 10 (yes even including that whacky grandma of yours), you've got to keep in mind that print has done something right.

It is THE most fundamental form of information transfer, with millions of books printed yearly and print being the most cost efficient and user friendly form of acquiring knowledge. Let's not forget the awesome feeling of getting to that last page of a great book, and the experience is tantamount to any electronic alternative, like this baby...

From the geniuses at Amazon, it is version 2.0 of their e-reader the Kindle. Retailing for just over $300 and with a monthly subscription, this baby plugs into the databases of the New York Post and of course the insurmountable Amazon library. Sure it's becoming more popular, but print is here to stay. The day I see a sermon read aloud by one of these things is the day I truly lose faith in religion. PRINT IS HERE TO STAY

So my conclusion? A fun documentary providing some interesting insight into the development of mass mediums, but ultimately foreshadowing anything but an apocalypse. Radio, television and print are merely resources that will continue to evolve but will always remain in some shape or form.

The Pope talks about.......condoms?

In a press release sent to me through humanitarian group Avaaz.org the pope apparently released a statement late last week stating

"[AIDS] cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms, which even aggravates the problems".

What? What is going on with people these days? Has the world gone absolutely loony? Since when has using condoms aggravated any problems? And since when has an old guy who is clearly disconnected from issues of HIV and AIDS been the go-to guy on preventative measures towards STDS?

I did some research of my own to investigate the issue and even the H.I.V. and AIDS minister from the World Health Organization released a statement stating that there is no evidence that condom use aggravates or increases the likelihood of contracting STDS....

So where does the problem lie? A vatican minister apparently mentioned that "The church teaches that fidelity within heterosexual marriage and abstinence are the best ways to stop AIDS." Now while that is probably true it does not help the problem whatsoever. People are going to have sex, sex is a natural human function, and actually a functional part of every living organism as a means of reproducing. It just so happens that humans actually enjoy having sex, and that's why they have so much of it. Same goes for dolphins too.

While I don't think the Pope's intentions were to disregard the insurmountable evidence that condom usage actually prevents the spread of HIV and AIDS, it seems ludicrous by any account to suggest that we should not encourage people, particularly in the third world not to wear condoms and become "educated about the issues". Preventative measures need to be taken, and encouraging people not to use condoms is anything but a step forward.

So much for learning from your mistakes.....

After the death of Robert Dzieanski a while back as a result of over-exposure to shock treatment from the use of police tazers the logical thing for any responsible government would be to limit and restrict the use of tazers as a result of this incident? Right? RIGHT?

WRONG

An excerpt from the article suggests that the ruling committee that was put in charge to insure these incidents never happened again called for "clear restrictions" on officers discharging stun guns multiple times and recommended they limit use to cases where the suspect is combative or poses a "risk of death and grievous bodily harm." Any reasonable and rational person would see the reasoning in doing so but nevertheless the federal government has not only ruled in favour of allowing tazer use but has also removed TWO PREVIOUS RESTRICTIONS on their intended usage, give police more leeway to utilize them.

You have to wonder where is the responsible governance in all of this? There was a public outcry, the committee in charge determined that tazer use should be limited, and a Montreal professorPierre Sauvard who studies the effects of electrical shock on the heart agreed with much of what the committee appointed said. The result? Less restrictions and more liberty for police officers to use tazers to incapacitate delinquents.

I do not believe we should totally abolish physical incapacitation for people that are getting out of hand but the fact of the matter is the officer charged with the death of Mr. Dzieanski was caught on footage tazering him four times....while he was on the ground. We are all human and make mistakes and act irrationally at times, and I am sure the officer did not intend to kill Mr. Dzieanski, but ultimately that's what happens when you put weapons in people's hands. Why don't they create a stun gun that only has a maximum life of 30 seconds before it requires a 5-10 minute cooldown? I don't doubt the technology exists to create such a unit.....but time will tell if these newly lifeted restrictions lead to more avoidable deaths.

Sly Fox

What do you get when you take one of the most prolific, and lyrically gifted hip hop artists to ever grace the mic..........and the shrew media tactics of Fox News?

SLY FOX

Off of his newest album "Untitled" Nasir Jones spits absolute fire at Fox News, here's a little excerpt:

"Watch what you watchin'
Fox keeps feeding us toxins
Stop sleeping
Start thinking
Outside of the box and
Unplug from The Matrix doctrine
But watch what you say Big Brother is watchin"

Bringing to light issues of selective reporting, biased journalism, and monopolization, Sly Fox is one of Nas' tightest rhymes to date. At the end of the youtube clip he includes an interview with a young lady who encourages liberal reporting and independent journalism AKA blogging.....Now all we need is a hip hop track titled "blogger".....

FEED ME!

So here's the deal.....I used to work at McDonalds and I can't lie, I still LOVEEEE the food. Who can resist a tasty big mac or some chicken nuggets......or my personally favourite an insider's trick....a double cheeseburger dressed like a big mac....mmmm!

Now obesity has been a big issue in the media, and a couple of years ago Mcdonalds actually donated $2 million to fund research on child obesity and has taken preventative measures by introducing their lineup of healthier alternatives.

HOWEVER!!! Health officials might wanna head over
to the little leagues to get a taste of this....

The ingredients?
5 slices of beef patties
5 slices of cheese
nearly a cup of chili
half a bag of tortilla chips and green peppers

Dear god, what are these people THINKING? You know, I don't have any problem with eating whatever you like, i'm all for it, but when are we ever going to get it through our heads (particularly in a minor league environment where plenty of impressionable children will be attending) that eating right is KEY to living a healthy life. Let's not forget that over 50% of Americans are obese......and to make things even better........you get a t-shirt if you can finish the whole thing....It's big enough to wipe out the 4800 calorie doodoo plopping into your toilet that night.......what happened to buying peanuts and cracker jacks??

City of God (MOVIE REVIEW)

By far one of the GREATEST movies I have ever seen, City of God is a coming of age story about a group of children in Brazil's biggest ghetto compound known as the "City of God". Left for dead, the story weaves through the hardships of everyday life in the ghettos, and the growth and change that the characters go through in their everyday struggles. Although I had to read through the subtitles I guarantee that you won't miss a beat as the story is shared through its emotional cutscenes and impecable directing. City of God shares the troubled times of a group of friends who learn that their own lives and happiness are more important than one another, ultimately leading them to follow their own paths to surmount the obstacles they faced in their life. If you're looking for a great foreign film with an AMAZING twist at the end, look no further

It ain't what it seem, life's a bitch, but at time's it's a dream

Hip hop music, particularly rap music has been a passion of mine since I was a weeee little boy. The title is an iconic line from Nasir Jones' life's a bitch,.


I just finished writing up a paper for my first year soc course about hyper masculinity in rap. Although I've studied rap music in the past, I came upon some pretty mind boggling statistics that I wanted to share

1/15 African Americans are in jail
1/9 African Americans aged 20-34 are in jail
43% of African American university graduates enter university but never graduate
63% of African American at Michigan University enter the university but drop out within the first two years

I hope just acknowleding these statistics will put into perspective a lot of the struggles and pitfalls associated with rap music, rather than just the glamour and glitz pop-rap that seems to consume the top 40 charts week in and out.

What happened to conscious hip hop? Virtually NOTHING on the airwaves has anything remotely close to the ghetto ballads of Tupac Shakur, or the effervescent stylings of Nas, what about the activism promoted through Public Enemy's fight the power? It seems that every genre has its golden age and I can also finally admit (after denying it for years), that the lineup of hip hop artists these days just don't cut it when compared to the legends who defined the scene. It seems like hip hop has lost its flair, its desire to be creative, edgy and inventive. all we get these days are recycled vocoders, way too flashy bling, and one hit wonders. Maybe I'm part of the minority but it is clear to most people that the quality of rap music is deteriorating, and although there is a great pool of talent, it seems that fewer and fewer artists are actually pure hip hop artists, and seem more interested in the lavish lifestyles associated with hollywood. But considering that most hip hop artists come from impoverished living conditions.......can ya blame em?

Pimp this bum??

So what happens when you take a father son combo who wanna help a homeless person get off the street??

PIMP THIS BUM!

It's easy to see why people could get offended, but really what's the point? Sometimes you just have to laugh at the unfortunate circumstances that have led you to the point that you are at in your life, laughter is the best medicine after all. It bothers me how much negative controversy is surrounding this project but I think it's brilliant! I was watching Tv London today and they had a piece about 3 4th year students at Western who have been campaigning for the homeless the past week by subjecting themselves to homeless conditions on UWO campus, and trying to raise money for a local London shelter. Regardless of however we wish to see change, sometimes we need to change the way we want to bring about change, and creativity captivates people to no end! If you would like to donate to the UWO homeless campaign check it out at http://www.5days.ca/region/

One Wish Campaign!

Have you ever wanted to make a wish? OF COURSE YOU HAVE! So why not share your wish with the world?

Emily Innes, Lisa Byers and myself have jump-started a campaign called "I have one wish", designed to help users share their goals and wishes with one another in an attempt to create greater communal involvement in the efforts of making individual wishes come true! Check us out at

http://ihave1wish.blogspot.com/

Make your wishes come true, dream big everyday and be inspired to create the change you wish to see!

The future is Google

I'm not a tech freak by any means, but I can not even begin to share my love for Google. By far the most accurate, systematic and user friendly search engine available on the internet, as well as the most comprehensive email service, dozens of other projects and gadgets released (including this very site, although it was bought out by Google not created initially by it), have thrust Google into the upper echelons of the technosphere.


In fact, Google allows 20% of its employees time to work on their own side projects and develop their own ideas, ensuring that the creative mill never runs dry. Add this to the fact that they have literally pioneered the internet revolution and for so many years have continued to redefine the web.......you're talking about a powerhouse of ideas.

Google's focus is on the continual innovation of its products and services, continuing to market itself not through advertisements or mass media marketing (e.g. Yahoo), but with the same consistent top notch quality that ultimately makes it King amongst most web and software developers.

Now Google is stepping out of its element and utilizing its satellite, now venturing into the world of telecommunications, working on its next project....a net phone. Call me crazy, but knowing Google, if they do this right.....we may very well see the gradual decline of home phones and the emergence of the net phone through VOIP. Call me a tech-freak if you want, but you have to give credit where credit is due.

The man in the glass

In a period of great self-reflection, sometimes we should think about the man in the glass. Here is a famous poem that I initially read when I was 10 years old and have held on to until this day. Its meaning becomes more profound year after year.

THE MAN IN THE GLASS

When you get what you want in your struggle for self

And the world makes you king for a day,

Just go to the mirror and look at yourself

And see what that man has to say.

For it isn't your father or mother or wife

Who judgement upon you must pass;

The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life

Is the one staring back from the glass.

Some people may think your a straight-shootin' chum

And call you a wonderful guy,

But the man in the glass says you're only a bum

If you can't look him straight in the eye.

He's the fellow to please, never mind all the rest,

For he's with you clear up to the end.

And you've passed your most dangerous, difficult test

If the man in the glass is your friend.

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of life

And get pats on your back as you pass.

But your final reward will be heartaches and tears

If you've cheated the man in the glass.

Peter "Dale" Wimbrow Sr.

10 Ways to live a sustainable lifestyle!

So as promised, here are some tips on how YOU can make a difference globally, in your local community

1: Recycle: The more people recycle, the cheaper it gets

2: Find a social issue you're passionate about: Let's face it, the world can be a great place, but there are so many issues to tackle that trying to surmount them all is ludicrous. Perhaps your concern is with animal welfare, or global warming. Look for an issue that excites and invigorates you to make a difference everyday. We can't do everything, we can certainly start somewhere.

3: Take the bus: Not only economically more efficient but public transit reduces toxic pollutants by nearly 95%!

4: Donate your time to a charitable organization

5: Talk to your local members of Parliament. If we believe in the right of the government to act in favour of the people, then let our voices be heard!

6: Turn it off: Not in your room? Turn the lights off! Leaving the house for class? Turn your desktop off. The more we appreciate the everyday resources afforded to us the more value we will find in minimizing our consumption

7: Don't litter: Out of sight out of mind.....or not? Cigarette butts take 12 YEARS to break down!

8: Explore: Probably the best means of learning about over-consumption is to experience the adverse effects of it firsthand. Check out a junk yard, or a garbage heap, I GUARANTEE the odour and stench will be an eternal reminder of how important it is to keep our world clean

9: Reuse: Buy a coffee mug instead of getting a new cup everyday, and get a reusable water bottle for everyday use!

10: Educate yourself: There are a ton of resources online so check em out!

The Story of Stuff

Have you ever wondered where all the stuff you have comes from? Activists from the Tide
Foundation and Funders Workgroup created a twenty minute video to explain just that!



Chronicling the extraction, processing, transportation and disposal of "stuff", this video gives us some insight into product manufacturing worldwide. It's aim: to demonstrate the unstable and unsustainable modes of production that are used to create all this "stuff".

Sustainable development is a big issue these days, and now that we are feeling the credit crunch, more and more of us are starting to notice the inevitable failures that our system has willingly created. Someone had to question the dangers of debt, the potential pitfalls of lending money with exorbitantly high interest rates with the laughable expectation that the return would be made. So Let us consider United States in particular wastes 27% of food available for consumption, and makes up less than 1/20th of the world's population. Furthermore, the United States is also the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, and has refused to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. The fundamental problem at hand is that our governments are REFUSING to take the necessary pre-cautionary measures to prevent a global meltdown, as we stand by by idle. Canada is not much better off, particularly when we consider the fact that we USED to be the BEST place on Earth to live, and now according to the United Nations Quality of Life Index the best place in the world to live in right now is..........NORWAY???? Ask your friends, bet you they would have had no clue, and keep in mind they have been on top for the past SIX years!

We've got to take matters into our own hand, if competition drives the economy, let the spirit of competition guide us towards doing what is best for the world.

Check out my next post to find out how you can contribute to the solution.

Kappa Alpha

So this past week was my fraternity's, the Kappa Alpha Society's, annual reunion. After weeks of planning and contacting alumni and active members alike, we were able to round out gentlemen all the way from New York and Toronto to join us for an unforgettable weekend.

A lot of people question the integrity of fraternities, criticizing the morality behind their hazing processes, as far as I'm concerned, I can't not even begin to share (for sake of secrecy of course), the eternal bond that I share with my brothers, and the incredible experience I have had in the previous 3 years. Fraternities are stereotyped for their lack of rigorous intellectual activity, but rest assured, as a literary society my fraternity encourages diligent studying and active citizenship. Long live the spirit of Kappa Alpha, and cheers to many more years!

Life's little moments: RESPONSE TO ANTHROPOLOGICAL INTRO TO YOUTUBE

Ow......CHARLIE BIT ME!

In professor Michael Wesch's youtube video about the anthropological contributions that youtube has had on the global community, it is incredible to see how life's everyday moments have permeated the screens of millions of viewers worldwide.

Throughout the video we are entertained by snippets of popular youtube videos such as those posted by "lonelygirl15", or "the numa numa guy", everyday ordinary individuals whose antics propelled their respective videos into the highest echelons of youtube stardom. However, what makes these videos so compelling? Aside from entertaining aspects of these videos, youtube has become a global speaker's corner. It has become the world's soapbox, where users share their everyday lives with those around them candidly. It has become a forum of rigorous political and social debate, eliciting video responses from users, going back and forth. In emogirls example, we witness the romanticized love story of two strangers, only to find out that we had been fooled all along.

Youtube has become a wanna bes dream, giving rise to the asian backstreet boys, and popularizing the bizarre talents of Tay Zonday. Youtube is one step of the gradual merge between man and machine, and unity between the virtual and real worlds. Users such as Lonelygirl, used youtube as a social experiment, fabricating personalities and characters geared towards drawing user views.

There is nothing bizarre about the numa numa guys video, i'm sure all of us have danced around when no one was looking, but even more so is his willingness to share this moment with all those watching. Think about it, day in and out people post videos, inviting us into their everyday lives, their thoughts, hopes and dreams, and more than anything, it amazes me how much emotional attachment we place on absolute strangers.

In this sense, Youtube becomes a means of anthropological study. As we follow the lives of everyday strangers, we begin to see bits of ourselves in their everyday struggles. Whether intended to put a smile on your face, or bring tears to your eye, we share moments together on Youtube with our friends, pulling up the "star wars kid" for the millionth time for a midnight laugh. Youtube continues to re-define itself through the input and support of its dedicated user base and un-wavering legion of followers who continue to capture life's everyday moments that shape our ordinary lives.

Web 2.0 has created an unparalleled social community, and it makes me wonder what Web 3.0 has in store.

Arguing against Academia

Many of us (including myself) are awaiting vacation this year, ready to
tackle the so-called "real world". Many others are returning back to further
our education and as many studies display, applications and enrollment in masters
programs. It seems like the general consensus is that more education is the way to go
and that as we continue to educate ourselves moreso, we will open up the path
to more jobs, more opportunities and greater success in our field of choice.

I find this view misconstrued, lacking an adequate understanding of market economics
and the potentially devastating over-saturation of students with university degrees

Consider this, if there is a 20% increase in enrollment for master's degrees, then that
means that when these masters students graduate, they're going to enter an overly
competitive workforce. Just as how a bachelor's degree these days doesn't provide
the opportunity it did years ago, so the same will happen to masters degrees, as they become
the "new" bachelors. Thus, if you're really trying to avoid the recession blues....here's
what I think.

Follow your heart, find your passion and exploit it for all it's worth.
Travel, do an exchange, teach english in a foreign contry.....EXPLORE. Education
is incredibly important, and if more education is what you feel is best, then by
all means don't look back. However, education is not confined to books, or school,
but to every facet of your life. Educate yourself about the things you are interested
in and the more you engage your passion, the greater it will reward you. As the old
adage goes, "learn something new everyday", and i guarantee there's a lot more to life
than what you learned in school.

What the hell did you just say?

When I came across this video after a friend sent it to me, I nearly peed my pants laughing. I thought it was brilliant! Than I realized that sometimes I feel like people need a dictionary to understand me

The Oxford Dictionary has approximately 171,476 words in its complete edition, but even that pales in comparison to the considerable amount of slang found in hip hop, let's take one example

The word sick in standard english suggests being of poor health e.g. "I am sick"

In hip hop culture, the word sick is used to show an interest or liking to something, "that is sick"

There are tons more examples to consider, but demonstrates the malleability of language. Either way, I love slang and i'm sticking to it......kn'aw mean??

10 Ways To Get Through The Crunch

Let's face it, the credit crunch sucks and as students we're definitely getting the short end of the stick. Here's one way to manage your money so you can keep rocking hard amidst the market blues.

1: Pack a lunch

I can't stress this one enough, absolute must!

2: Work your phone bill

I can't tell you how many times I've called into my phone company complaining that
there was "some" mixup on my phone bill. Result? $20 off for the next 12 months....$240? Not bad :)

3: Pre Drink

I don't think this one needs to be mentioned since out of the countless times I've gone out at night, I think there may have literally been a handful of times where I did not pre-drink.....BUT, if you aren't a pre-drinker, it's about time you become one.

4:Use the bus

Got a bus pass? USE IT! Sure it's nice to drive around all the time but when you think about the gas consumption, the parking costs.......and in my case the inevitable ticket I receive by the end of the night, it's hard not to get on the big ol' bus and kick it old school......

5: Coupon

God......I'm not gonna lie, I hate those folks who take forever to search through their stack of coupons to save $1 or $2, but use em on a regular basis and you'll be saving anywhere from $20-$30 a week, GUARANTEED!

6: Look for sales

A given, but again, very key. With the recession in effect, many retailers are aiming for the lowest price point to attract as many customers as possible. Remember.......the early bird gets the room. I got a $150 wireless home phone set for $25 two days ago...SWEAR!

7: Chill in

When we're being subject to weather that feels like it's F)#*!$! -27, can't hurt to stay in and watch a movie. Get some friends together, chill out and shoot the shit!

8: Get a job

If you need extra cash you can always try a campus job, great rates and flexible hours. Perfect if you need to constantly blog all the time.

9: Odd Jobs

Try some of those campus surveys, you could probably squeeze in a couple of em every week, that could be upwards of $40 for just a few hours of your time!

10: Don't consume???

Maybe this doesn't really fit in with the theme...........but have you ever thought about how the recession MIGHT be a good thing?? Weird eh?? Maybe we shouldn't be consuming so much in the first place, that's how we got into this mess didn't we? Think twice about getting that extra bag of chips, or buying that 3rd pair of shoes this month......but that's just a thought