New Media Culture Blog Post # 6

Before I discuss my feelings on the documentary Hacking Democracy I will say this: Our class disgusts me, well part of the class. During the first viewing, there was a group of kids a few rows in front of me who instead of watching the movie were instead playing some stupid game on their computers. These are the people who give Americans, especially young Americans a bad name. I’m sure these kids could name the last Kanye West single, but probably not the president of Mexico. It disgusts me so much to have peers like this, enough to make me want to move out of this country.Enough of that rant ,back to the movie.

The film I thought was startlingly excellent, I had almost forgotten about the Ohio recount. It all seems so cut and dry after this movie that we need to change the way in which we hold elections. It seems so strange that Kerry didn’t put up a bigger fight, like he knew what was going on, that is was all planned out. How come no one was up in arms over Diebold contributing to the Republican committee in Ohio, it all seems so obviously corrupt. Imagine how different our world would be if Kerry had won? Maybe nothing at all would have changed, maybe not.

I am extremely concerned that nothing has changed since this film was released. I have no idea about what kind of program we use in the state of MN to run elections, but I guess since the person I voted for won, I have no reason to be upset, which is probably how it goes sadly. The fact that the film ended with Ohio paying 20 million dollars for easily corruptable machines is so disheartening, it seems like despite black box voting easily proved that wrong-doing of Diebold that nobody cares enough anyways. There should be zero doubt when it comes to voting machines

New Media Culture Blog Post # 5

For this post, I am going to discuss Professor Miranda Brady’s lecture in our class last week. The  soft-spoken teacher talked a lot about the use of technology and PAN and their impact beyond our social lives. She talked specifically about a cases in which people used text messaging to help organize people to a mass protest to oust a governmental leader I believe in Thailand and then more recently in Kosovo. I find this to be extremely interesting in that I think of a cellphone as an unnecessary luxury used almost exclusively for entertainment purposes. Granted SMS technology was used here in St. Paul during the RNC conventions as a way to communicate between protesters, never in my wildest imaginations would i suspect I would ever use it for something as important as it has been used elsewhere.

She also discussed the indigenous diaspora which is a migration among indigenous groups forced off their land. She played us a very amazing video clip of a group of people trying to move back onto their land that the government had given to them despite it being used by some corporation. When the camera’s were rolling, there was no altercation but when the cameras weren’t there documenting what was going on, the corporate employee’s killed some of the people. This is another instance of putting a great deal of importance on a piece of technology that doesn’t seem to carry the same significance here in the U.S.

She also touched briefly on “hacktivism” which was a new term for me. The example she gave was of of Palestinian and Israeli hackers going onto each others websites and vandalising them. I find this to be extremely interesting as I have never really thought of this kind of hacking to be used outside of entertainment purposes which is my only exposure to before this lecture.

i can’t wait

for the first Sunday after school is over, to be able to wake up and do whatever I want. To have a truly lazy Sunday without having the lingering feeling of knowing that i have homework to do.  To be able to take any book I want and read it, to be able to go get a bloody mary, or just lay on the couch and watch movies.  

3 more weeks

it speaks

Greetings Earth People,

 

i am still alive, currently putting off working on a paper that is due Tuesday. I am going to a concert tonight, Wye Oak and have school then DJ’ing a party at Envy tomorrow night so I am not sure when I am going to finish it but I sure as hell better.

I am going to keep this pretty short I think, been a busy  but low-key week. Got my new tattoo on Monday and am very happy with it. It might be a pain in the ass trying to explain to everyone what it represents but I dont care, I really like how it turned out. Thursday was kool keith which was a ton of work, a lot of back and forth with his management but it all worked out in the end. Sold Out show, spent some time talking with Kutmaster Kurt after about life in general, just me and him after everyone else left. KK is over 40 believe it or not, and really likes Applebee’s.  Friday began day one of my mustache, in time for the stache bash, aka drew’s b-day. A lot of talk about Pete getting kicked out if he had the party and the word on the street is that he is, he will know for sure this week, which would suck considering we cleared out of his place at like 1 after rumors of the coppers showing up. I had more fun at Petes house because all the guys were there, Beck-dogg was wearing a swimsuit and we were al drinking Mountain Crest, which i picked up for less then $10 a case,  burned in your throat after like taking a shot of vodka. After we left Pete’s for someone elses house where we finished the night, set up the dj equipment and played to a dwindling crowd, still fun and good practice for me.   The whole night was fun, just not exactly the epic house party I was hoping for, too many strange MCAD kids, not enough grinding, I didn’t even get drunk which is strange,  you should always be drunk with a mustache.

Stayed in last night and watched a crazy documentary called Dear Zachary. You should all see it, that is all i am going to say about it.  Tomorrow party, Tuesday after work im going to Peter,Bjorn and John, then hopefully laying lowish for the rest of the week, I got a lot of homework piling up and my tattoo cost a bit more then I thought so I am trying to save some cash.

back to this paper, though id much rather drink beer and watch NBA playoffs,  I fucking love that shit.

-oooeeee

The Good Times are Killing Me

I woke up today at 9:45am, the same time my class starts, so I roll over and go back to sleep. missed both of my classes today and I was also going to poster for the Rosebuds show on Friday.  I need to drink less until school gets out.  I can still go out, just need to be able to wake up in the morning.

Saw Quintron and miss Pussycat last night, who are this awesome husband and wife duo. Their shows always start with a psychedelic puppet show, great props and voices and always entertaining.  This one was about a snake who eats acid made from clouds or something. The moral of the story was “drugs are good”  The band is merely Quintron on Keys/organ/drum machine/ cymbal and his wife on vocals and marracas.   Quintron shreds on keys, plays an organ most of the time and it turned into a wild wednesday night dance party complete with mild moshing.  I had a blast and was impressed by the fact that they played for 90 minutes and threw in a Neil Diamond cover for the encore.  After getting some free tickets from Nate,  and drinking some beer I have come to this conclusion. RED STRIPE, ONCE MY GO TO BEER, IS OUT OF THE ROTATION.   That’s right, no more red stripe for me, im going to stick to my pbr’s for the time being. I wish they had a guinness tap in the entry.

Was at Radio K for a bit yesterday working on the 1st ever 1st avenue podcast. My voice sounds terrible on the radio and I am questioning how entertaining it will be.  It was only our first one, so I think it will get better with time. I think it’s going up on 1st aves website, so be on the lookout for that.

Passover sedar tonight at my G-ma’s, my bro and sis are in town and i am looking forward to a long, fulfilling dinner.  Probably going to see Eugene Mirman’s variety show thingy at the entry tonight with Aron if he wants to go, don’t plan on drinking (much) Going to be a good weekend, Rosebuds,Acid Mothers Temple, birthday party, etc…. I just dont know when i am going to start working on my multiple papers i have due in the next few weeks. It will get done somehow.

now i have a stomach ache and want to go back to bed, but I got a paper due tomorrow and need to go to the bank before my tattoo on monday.

good times,

SWV

 

ps.  special shout out to Drew for the late night pick-up last night.

Wavves

I just got home from seeing this band called Wavves, they sucked.  I dragged maury to this show, but honestly, what a letdown. I liked Vampire Hands, the opener, 10x more then these guys. I am quite glad we got to see Vampire Hands, they have probably been the opening act for at least 10 shows that I have gone to, but I have honestly never seen them play once, which sucks because they are fucking awesome.  I really want to see them again soon and gosh darnit, I will.

It’s been over a week since my last post, which is a good sign, it means I have been busy, distracted, etc… As of this moment in time, life is ok, leaning towards the good side. I got a lot of shit coming up soon, my brother is coming to town on Thursday, going to see some good music this weekend with the Rosebuds, Acid Mothers Temple, getting a new tattoo a week from Monday, mustache and suit party, Kool Keith, NOMO, birthday, Great American Bash. thats a pretty good run for the next month and a half i think, now I just to keep my head straight and my thoughts positive until then. I got 2 huge papers I gotta work on for the next month which I really wish i didnt have, but knowing that it will all be over soon makes mouth happy.

Had a pretty decent week, was afraid I couldnt ever drink again after my Sunday night last week, which I suppose i will recap slightly.  First Ave Staff party, cheap ass drinks.  I dont remember exactly what happened or what was consumed but I do recall these facts.

1. See ex-gf with guy in red hat, saw them also on Friday night, now assume they are dating despite her “not having time for a relationship” Assume she is a whore and a liar as she ignores me.

2. Drink, drink to forget about hoooor, drink whiskey shots and pbr, not sure how many,

3. eat pot cookie

4. need to leave first ave at 1, no time but now, need to throw up on the mean streets, do so.

5. Monday: feel like Mike Tyson is inside my stomach punching from the inside out, vow never to drink again

That was the start of my week, finally started working on the ultimate megamix with Drew on Wed. which goes well, especially after a homoerotic asian cuisine date with him. If anyone followed him and I around together for a month they would totally assume we were lovers. which we luckily aint.  Friday night had a good old time at Junior Boys, really fun crowd, anytime I get to smoke a blunt with Conner Cronk it’s a good time.  Hung out with a fine young lady at Get Cryphy, threw my hands up to the hottest hip hop joints in the nation.  Overall a good Friday, better then most. Saturday just worked, came home and watched a movie, felt good to stay in, get a good nights sleep.

what would an entry be without some depressing news; the store that my mom works at is most likely closing, she will know for sure at the end of the month. This would be a huge setback to my folks, they are already coming up short as it is. If it means that I need to move home after my lease is up and contribute, maybe get a job at some restaurant close by MTKA I would gladly do so. They mean more to me than anything else in the world and I hate seeing them struggle. My dad might have found a job, he starts this week but until he makes some money off it, it’s a commission gig trying to get dr.’s offices to update their computer system.

thats about it, the ying and the yang.

-Zoran Sporat?

It Takes More then a Hammer and Nails

To Make A House a Home.

I have always loved that line, don’t ask me why. I am currently listening to Loretta Lynn’s Van Lear Rose on this Saturday morning.

My week has been ok, kind of getting back into this school thing the but the truth is I didnt have much going on in my classes this week. I did get my midterms back and I was shocked to see that I did ok, like B’s on both. One of my teachers had a rediculously generous curve and I just did a damn fine job of guessing on my other one, so that is quite a relief.  I do have to get cracking on two long papers between now and the end of the month, but asides from that I really won’t have a ton of work to do, at least I don’t think so, lots of reading still. on wednesday I went to both the doctor and the dentist which obviously sucked, got a prescription filled at the dr. because I had a small sinus infection that had been building since  St. Patty’s, I feel better now. The dentist however was a different experience. I hate the dentist so hard, not the actually doctor himself just the experience and the scraping, and the noise and the music and lighting. I would rather sit on your dad’s lap and stare into his eyes for an hour than go to the dentist.   It was the first time I went since not having a car, so it was a bit of a bus ride from 1st Ave.   Got there, did my business but found out that I have two cavities.  I am losing my dental insurance at the end of the month, so now I have to go back on Monday and get them filled which will indeed also suck. Afterwards, I walked over to Dairy Queen to grab a quick bite before catching the next bus back to uptown.   I idiotically after I scarfed down a chicken strip basket got in line to grab a shake before catching the bus because I haven’t had ice cream in forever and of course I see my bus cruise by through the window a few minutes early.   So instead I get some walkaway sunday thingy for $5 that I really didn’t like or need and waitied inside.   I didn’t know when the next bus came, so I left early to go wait for it.    For some reason, while I was waiting outside alone at dusk on an extremely frigid wednesday night, thinking about the money I have to spend for the cavities, losing my insurance, personal woes etc… I became overwhelmed with a feeling of sadness.  I just wanted to give up, i don’t know why, but I felt horrible, felt like i was struggling in some way,  which is stupid because I really am not struggling, at least from a financial stand-point. I don’t know, it was just a rough time waiting for the bus,  first time really since i gave up my car that I really wished I had one.

After, went to Maurys and felt better immediately, the boys were there and we watched a truly gangsta ass flick that Maury found in a gutter in Austin called like “Gimme That Paper Stack.”  After went to the Cabooze and watched my buddy Knute’s band play a gig, but I was alarmed later when Ben suggested that they might be a “christian” band.   They were pretty good, but I hate music mixed with religion, well at least western religion, is that prejudice? 

Saw the Handsome Furs on Thursday night, which was just what I needed.  Great show, felt great to slam a beer and rock out a bit. I bought a t-shirt I really don’t like which happens more often then not, but oh well, what can I do now.  Had a long Friday last night, but a pretty memorable one. Offensive Band Name Night in the Whole, which was underattended but still amazing. Baby Guts played first and were loud but damn good, female led punk. Gay Witch Abortion were next and the drummed in that band is insane, I love watching the drummer is metalish bands.  Lastly was Faggot and oh boy were they awesome. I haven’t seen that many dicks since, well ever. 5 crazy costumed dancers, women in trashcans, dildos, humping, prostate cancer advice, and all your favorite simulated sex acts right in the polite confinements of the Whole Music Club and paid for by the U students themselves.  I really with more people were there, more students, freshman specifically.  We did a bad job marketing this show and none of the papers picked it up. I put up posters yesterday and one lady came and complained about having the word Faggot on a poster. Of course she didn’t come to the show to see that they aren’t a hate band, they are a love band.

After I went over to Sage Francis at 1st ave with a friend and was plenty let down by his performance,  but the audience loved him. Maybe it was because I was so entertained by the orgy of Faggot and was put-off by the one overweight white guy on stage with a mic but no DJ that I coudnt get into it. I don’t know his music at all, but I don’t plan on getting his shit anytime soon.  That first beer on Friday nights i must say after that long day at the U taste soo good. 

That about wraps er up,  gonna do some hw today before work, then go out for a birthday and maybe do some dancing up in the VIP room tonight. Oh, almost forgot, I started to twitter or tweet as they call it.  Don’t know why, I guess just one other thing to waste my time doing. At some point we should all probably burn our computers and go to the library, but not yet, 

Eli Jerome

Lordy Lordy

It’s over, the last spring break of my entire life is done, finished, terminated.  In a way, I am kind of glad. I miss seeing other people my age that I see at school, not that many of them I actually talk to, but still it is good just to experience them.

On Thursday night, after a real shitty shift at work where I made $19, I went out with my dear Colorado resident of a friend Lucy Woods.  I need like 10 more of hers in my life, they don’t make people that cool anymore, especially not girls. But alas, she lives elsewhere but I am glad to have her as a friend and it’s always a treat when she comes to town. Friday was a shit show, the way spring break is when you are 19 and at an all-inclusive resort in Mehiko. Bunch of dudes went to see some wrasslin’ at 1st ave. It was pretty entertaining yet disappointing because the star of the show, the Iron Sheik did not wrestle, he just sat in a chair cursing Hulk Hogan and signing pictures for $10. I did shake his hand, I really don’t even know who he is, I barely remember his face from a match back in the glory days. Between matches, went over to OD’s for some shots and wings, went back to 1st ave, drank more pbr’s, then afterwards went to the Local and I can honestly say I never want to go there again. It seems like a bar built solely for d’bags with money, which I neither am or have. Everyone there looked the same, but we still had a good time in out corner. The only problem was that I bought a round of shots, 5 or 6. i haven’t done that in a long time, and when I have it has been in a bar where I know the bartender. 3 of us bought rounds, and well I was a little floored when our bill came. Like $50 for the shots and 1 guinness,   that my friends is murder.    For whatever reason we left, I don’t remember much more other then cursing the Local with the intentions of stealing something to make us even, but all I ended up grabbing was a patio chair from Barrio or something which I feel bad about because as far as I know that could be a sweet bar and the complete opposite of the Local.  So I ended up carrying that around downtown until we got to the car, and now it sits in my living room.   It was dumb and I actually feel guilty about it after the fact. oh well, it will never happen again, at least not at the expense of Barrio.

I was tired yesterday, just went home after work and watched a movie. Today had a productive lunch meeting about the next TOTS party. Tonight I realized that I need like 5 more friends in my life, outgoing friends.  I had a guest spot for the Cloud Cult documentary preview screening at the Varsity and couldn’t find anyone to go with, so I went alone. I have never gone to a movie alone before, and it wasn’t that bad to be honest.  The movie was pretty good, glad I saw it for free. I also watched recently W. which I thought was pretty bad and didn’t understand the purpose of, Syndechoce, New York which I loved probably because of its depressing plot and also American Teen which seemed too scripted but made me think I wasted a lot of opportunities to enjoy high school. 

I am realizing as I finish this blog post how I don’t think I am headed in the right direction with these. Am i merely suppose to recap my week, or should I instead rant and rave about my radical views on  puppy farms and other things.

I am looking forward to summer greatly, looking forward to basketball and biking, to reggae music and hanging on patios, to new tattoos and mexican beer. 

Our next party is 2 months from today, that is something to look forward to mis amigos.

-The state of Virginia

Back to Basics

It feels great to be laying in bed at 1130 this Wed. evening.  I am tired and arguably sick; stuffy nose and general weakness probably because I am so tired.  I got sick yesterday, I felt it during my 9 hour shift at O’donovan’s, but I am getting ahead of myself here.

Last week sucked, so much hw and mid-terms. I am sincerely scared to see my mid-term grades, i have never been so unprepared for tests in my entire life. It is my own fault, i hadn’t done the reading and am really horrible at studying/cramming. I think that after I see these grades, I am going to have to get serious the rest of the semester just to ensure a passing grade in my classes. This is not going to be easier with spring fever slowly creeping in. One thing that I have realized that I no longer have in my life is something to look forward too.  I used to always have something on my calender, something on the horizon that made it worthwhile to get up everyday. I haven’t had one of those on my calender in a while it feels like. It used to almost always be a concert,  but there is nothing that I am truly that excited about, not even the concerts that I have booked myself at the U. I guess there are only 10 or so bands out there right now that I could be so excited about, last year I had Lollapalooza, the year before Daft Punk in L.A., all I have now is the National, but that isn’t until July.  There is talk of a trip to D.C. in June, but until that is booked i just don’t have the excitement.  We are planing another party in late May and have a date set in stone, but once again until the flyer is made, I just lack the emotions. 

Oh well, so spring break started on Friday and I spent it on the dancefloor, Street Sounds Swirlin Through my Mind style. I had fun,  i got drunk, but it wasn’t quite as cool as I hoped it to be, musically i thought it was mediocre, which is the same way I felt the following night on the same dancefloor with the same people listening to Matthew Dear. The company I kept was great, but it still lacked something. I always envision these great dance floors, but they never pan out.  I still had fun, don’t get me wrong, but both nights needed something else thrown in that just wasn’t there.

Monday night finally got me some great music, saw the Black Lips for the second time and thought they were fantastic, the kind of band you want playing during a bar fight.   not enough bands like them anymore, just straight up rock and roll, short, fast songs, I wish they would have played all night, I don’t think it would have ever gotten old.

Yesterday, I strolled into O’donovan’s around 5pm for my shift. I was excited, but I had woken up with symptoms of illness within my body that I tried to delay with tea and airborne.  it was a pretty good night, but unlike last year, we were so busy that I didn’t get a break and so I went 9 hours without eating anything or sitting down once. my feet got soaked from my shitty shoes and a wet bar, i had a horribly sore throat and the empty stomach prevented me from taking shots from many people who wanted to take one with me. In fact  yesterday, St. Patty’s Day is the only day in the last 6 that I didn’t have a single drink, considering that my beer after work didn’t happen until 3am, technically being today. Saw some folks I hadn’t seen in quite a while, Hopkins folks, First Avenue folks and the night went pretty smoothly. I was beat after, and similar to last year but to a much calmer level, i hung out afterwards counting money, drinking beer and eating pizza until I caught the 1st bus of the day at 5:00am and went home.

Well, I think that kind of wraps things up, got a few more nights of break ahead, but no big plans. might go to wrestling at 1st Ave. on Friday which should be good for a laugh, probably going to the Cloud Cult documentary screening on Sunday, then Monday it;s back to the old routine.  I am really looking forward to being done with school, the uncertainty is enticing, the freedom to do and go wherever I want even more so.

Ladies and Gentlemen

Boys and Girls,

I am humbly honored to invite thee to the greatest bashtthis country has ever seen.

On May the 22nd of the 2009 year of our lord, The Original Truth Squad triumphantly return to their rightful position behind the DJ booth to present to you; The Great American Bash

This will be like no other party you have ever been to, this is freedom, personified into a Friday night to end all Friday nights.Things that will happen include:

You Will Get Eaten by a Crocodile

You Will Share a S’More with Prince

You will gyrate your hips in a circular motion to the greatest night of dance music your virgin ears have ever heard.

There will be :

Cake

Beads

Butts

Beards and most importantly

Freedom.

What better way to celebrate the start of Memorial Day Weekend then by spending it with your babysitters Rob Rob, Saund Waav and I am Break, He is the Beat.

Prepare yourself for the best night of grinding your crotch has ever been a part of. You bring the flag, we will wave it proud and high.