John’s Blog

http://www.nationalpost.com/scripts/story.html?id=2213061

MEEP

SUSPENDED

AHHHH

Sooo students at Danvers High School use the word “meep” as a fun and harmless replacement for some other 4 letter words… and power to them! When i first heard that there was a school in which this was happening.. and that kids were getting suspended for it.. i got a little riled up!

So why must school administration crush our happiness? Why do ridiculous rules need to be enforced? Why does it sometimes seem that the academic world is older folks having power trips on the younger folks?

But lo! I read the article and it seems THE MAN is not quite as bad as everyone makes him (them?) out to be. The only reason kids were being suspended was because there was a class prank planned via facebook that would have a substantial number of people shouting MEEP at the same time during the school day.. which of course would be a major disruption.

So what I now gather, Is that the principal threatened to suspend people not for soley saying a silly word, but for the rebellion that that sylable stood for!

Ah, high school.

This summer, Joel, the guy who leads the youth group music stuff (whom i play bass for) went away for a few weeks. He asked me to take over while he was gone, and it was an interesting experience. It stretched my musical abilities, of course, singing isn’t something I had usually done by myself before (I usually sing harmony parts) but that wasn’t the hardest part.  it wasn’t so much the leading the music part, I felt pretty at home there, music is one of my favorite things in the world. Having the responsibility changed my relationships a little. I’m not making it out to be a super big deal or anything, but when the musicians are your brother, best friend, and various people your own age who have grown up with you, a little change is dynamic can be interesting. I am really grateful none of them ran me off with an angry mob, they all really helped a lot giving their own ideas but also respecting mine. I have a whole new level of respect for leaders in any situation or genre now, because with a little authority was a lot harder to handle than i thought.

Going along with my previous post, i was thinking about why educational, historical cinematic endevours work. they do because they come out at a time when a younger generation needs telling, the older enjoys to reminisce about the good ol’ days. Even if they weren’t so good.. that’s reason #2! they come out when enough time has elapsed that society at large can handle a dramatic representation of the past, imagine a Vet watching “band of brothers” a soon as he got home, that’s a heart attack waiting to happen. Now, when that same Vet is in his upper 70’s, willing to share his story, writing books and going to reunions, he can handle even helping create “Band of brothers” adding his memories, comments and stories to the mix. His kids get to see what Dad really did go through, and the grankids are awed at the hero that grampa really was. (or uncle, or cousin, or neighbor, insert your common experience here) And reason #3, the past si something that families can rally around and learn about together. The future may be unceratin, but we can take comfort in our (however shameful or gruesome) past.

Remember the Titans is such a great movie. It’s one of my favorites… Sure, it can be cliche, predictable and corny, but its a classic!

I really encourage every one and anyone to see this movie.. because one, its a great movie, and two, theres a difference between reading about segregation and civil rights in your history textbook and actually having it brought home to you in a way thats relatable and understandable. At least for me, thats what the movie did.. it took a fairly unbaised look at the story and whatnot, and it may have reinforced some sterotypes, but I think the positive feeling of the movie wins out.

It was based on a true story, and you can read up on that here- http://www.71originaltitans.com/

cheers!

Today we watched the Matrix, (i know cool right?) and for all you who have seen it, I would like you too think a little deeper about it. If you have not seen the movie, I strongly suggest seeing it, and with these thoughts in mind…

The Matrix: In the movie, the matrix is an alternate reality created for humans to live in while they are being used as batteries for the evil machines that now inhabit the earth. No one knows this, save a few freedom fighters led by a man named Morpheus. I think that the Matrix represents what people want you to believe, the kind of coporate media giants who control television and such. So the freedom fighters areee.. bloggers?

Reality: Truth. Not finding one’s identity through the world, to be vaugly spiritual.

Names

Neo: this name is rather simple… Neo is supposed to be ‘The One” and it has the same three letters, albeit in a different order. Neo is also a Latin prefix meaning “New”

Morpheus: the Roman/Greek god of Dreams, this is a fitting name for the character who gives people the option of getting out of the matrix.

Trinity: I’m not sure what the significance of her name is… Trinity is one of the “freedom fighters” who is prophesied over by the oracle to fall in love with “The One”. In the Christian teachings, the Trinity is the name ascribed to the three-in-one God of the Old and New testaments. (Its kind of confusing, but there’s God the father, who created everything, Jesus, who died for the punishments of others, and then there’s the Holy Spirit, a more personal relation to God who dwells in  his people and directs and comforts them. I have no idea what that has to do with the Matrix though…)

Zion:I think Zion is a reference to the Jewish homeland which God promised them, according to the Torah. It’s also used as a name for heaven, so in the Matrix when Morpheus and Co. are trying to get to Zion, avoiding the enemies can be a parallel to the christian walk of staying true to their path, avoiding evil and ultimately fulfilling God;s plan and gathering with the rest of their kin in heaven, like Morpehus wants to find and live with the remains of Humanity. The matrix version is a little darker, but the simularity is evident.

Nebuchadnezzer: Was a great powerful conquering babalyonian king. Also, he plays a role in the Judeo-Christain story, but not that i think relates to The Matrix… just that Morpheus is kind of conquering evil i guess.

Good movie. Watch it.

A public service announcement (PSA) or community service announcement (CSA) is a non-commercial advertisement broadcast on radio or television, ostensibly for the public interest. PSAs are intended to modify public attitudes by raising awareness about specific issues.

Project Think: Different (apparently that name may no longer be!) is creating an Anti-Violence Public Service Announcement this summer. Doing some research, the BYF (Boston Youth Fund) team spent a chunk of time watching a handful pf PSAs, rating them, and discussing what was affective in getting the point across.

My favorites were “Textual Harrasment” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2gIEqW-lL8

and “Father Involvement” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9A2Ap3DyvLg

The first, because it actually hit me pretty hard. Even though it was a hyperbole, i realized that texting youre significant other too much can not just be annoying, it can be abusive and controlling. Also, the PSA reached me in a way that was funny but still made me think.

The second i just thought was brilliant, because, like the first, it involved humor to make a serious point. I liked how the PSA did it focusing on the positive (the father helping his daughter) instead of the negative (the father not being there when the fdaughter needed him)

Anyway. Check ‘em out.

Community Connect 09!

Come to it!

Please?

As you know, I work at Project Think Different, a non-profit organization
that teaches youth Media Literacy and promotes positive social
change through visual art, music, and spoken word. We’re hosting an
event on June 13th at the Boston Common Pavilion from 10-3, its a
Saturday. The goal is to entertain, but also to serve and educate
undeserved communities around the city. Were looking for a variety
of positive musical artists, as well as some motivational speakers,
college opportunities, things of that sort.The last event got about
an 800 person turnout, so it should be around that number this year. Don’t miss it!

Also if you are in a band that plays empowering music and/or supports positive social change, and are within driving distance of Boston, MA you could be able to get a spot in the days lineup. Let me know!

 Recently a friend suggested that I read 1984  by George Orwell .

It was a good suggestion.

I really liked the book.. i suggest it to anyone who is interested in politics, philosophy, the future, or a combination of the three. (Orwell also wrote Animal Farm) The book is a warning, a vivid picture of a future that could/may/shouldn’t happen. The year 1984 for has long since come and past, but it doesn’t make the book any less relevant or potent.

The story follows a man named Winston Smith, who, seemingly unlike his peers, has a sense of unrest about the current state of affairs.. and the past state of affairs. You see, in this “future” world, the province of Oceania (one of three countries dominating the world) the past is susceptible to change. The past is able to change but one is not allowed to remember the truth, in the privacy of your own room you are watched and listened to at all hours via telescreen, chocolate is rationed, razors are scarce, “proles”, the working class, are illiterate slaves to society, individualistic thinking is greatly discouraged, and if “thoughtcrime” is committed you may disappear, from life and from the past.  

Its not a pleasant book really..but its stupendously interesting.

I don’t want to ruin the plot…but i highly, highly recommend the book. Just don’t expect to be happy-go lucky afterwards. You need a little while to recover.

Hey my few and hopefully still dedicated readers whom i can count on one hand!

http://www.storyofstuff.com

check out that website if you get a chance its really cool.

The basic idea behind these guys philosophy is that the consumer market we have set up today doesn’t work. The market is set up so the American citizen buys and buys and buys, supporting the corporations, factories, and government.

This market has produced the idea of Planned Obsolesce, meaning products are “designed for the dump”  because if there was a product that lasted forever, and never was outdated, the company that made it would go out of business correct?

So that means that corporations aren’t looking to give you the best product possible… they want to sell you a product that satisfies you enough, that when it breaks or gets outdated, you’ll come back for more. As Chris Rock puts it, (paraphrased) how come if they can make a space shuttle that can make it out of the atmosphere without blowing up, they cant make a Cadillac with bumpers that stay on?

Its a funny joke, but he’s got a point.

Check out the website.. Theres a video that illusrtrates this stuff better than i could. you dont have to agree with everything she says, but at least think about it.  Its interesting.

       So i was sitting at my computer thinking of something to write, and gazing bleary eyed into the blogosphere i had an epiphany. This whole blog sh-tuff is amazing! How far we have come, this is freedom of speech at it’s highest. And lowest. I think its great that everyone and anyone can get his/her opinion shtick out without fear of censorship. And a lot of the time the blogs are sorted by readership, so as chances go, a blog with high readership will at least be entertaining, if not a perfectly credible collection of well written articles by an experienced, concise writer. (unlike me, a high school student with no credentials, which leads me to..) 

     So the pro is also a con, meaning that its hard to site blogs as credible sources, because anyone with an email account and internet access can get a blog started up. The blogosphere is a great, omni-accessible  thing, but when it comes down to it, it has just as many limitations/mishaps as every other form of media. It has just as much if not more bias as everything else, (which can be a good thing because you can keep your guard up, knowing it’s someone’s opinion) it’s easier to get then newspaper, because its free, but you need time to surf the web. And after a long day not many people are going to want to surf the web for a blog to read, so the evening news wont be loosing many of their viewers to bloggers. 

     SO I’ve concluded that blogging and reading blogs is just another form of media, and its great, but in my opinion wont be replacing anything anytime soon.