my creative research text. why not?

Music, and the distribution thereof, has always had a profound effect on politics. The early 1960’s saw the civil rights movement, with people like Duke Ellington, and Sam Cooke who created their art based on the current events of the time. A Change is Gonna Come, is probably the most noted song of Sam Cooke’s career because it reflected a culture that was in a transition, done with such poignancy, that it affected the entire music and political world at that time.

Later on in the same decade, famous folk poets and lyricists began their take on the art form. Bob Dylan is known around the world today for the way he changed the music industry. He was not one who used politics as a selling point for his music. Rather, he used it as inspiration to voice his frustration, and sheer disdain for what was happening in the world around him.

The Vietnam War sparked many opposing views to be scattered throughout the music industry. On of the most recognized songs from this time is Edwin Starr’s “War.” This era in our history was one in which young people formed their views more based on the music, than on anything else.

In our current political arena there are several figures that have brought an outcry of opposition. Rebel music from artists such as Bob Marley, and Rage Against the Machine have made millions off their radical views.

Even Pop music, in its current sad state, has an effect on politics. In 2006, recording artist John Mayer released his third solo album entitled, “continuum.” It has been critically acclaimed for his subtle opposition of the war in Iraq.

Then there is the country music industry. Where the conservative blue collared working man even has a voice. Artists like Toby Keith, Alan Jackson, the Dixie Chicks, and several others have been criticized for their art in lieu of the current war.

As the world changes, and the music industry evolves, one thing is for certain – The two worlds conversely affect one another, and this will continue to happen. Musicians use freedom of speech as a platform in many different ways, and the messages they convey are taken in by their viewing and listening audience. As long as there are people to listen, musicians will continue to influence people politically, and as long as there are politics, there will be music.

relevent technology

For me the most important question to ask when considering new innovations is which ones are relevant? It seems that there are so many innovations that should make things simpler, when really all they do is complicate things. The ultimate goal of technology, in my opinion, is to make things more simple. At what point do we say, “I don’t need that.” There are many things that we don’t need but we often want. I am guilty of this very thing. I just don’t think we will ever be satisfied with our current technology, because there is so much pressure to keep up with the world around us. What can we live without? Instead of creating more things that we want, I think the focus should shift to making things more simplistic and practical.

fifteen years

Innovations and new technology affect every part of our lives by changing the way we communicate with one another. This isn’t necessarily the only way that affect all of this things, but in my opinion that is the biggest way that they are impacted. If you think about how different life was fifteen years ago, it is mind boggling. Fifteen years ago there was no one text messaging each other on their cell phones, or emailing papers to their professors, or watching HD television in their homes, or presenting information on a power point slideshow. It is funny to think that handwritten letters have been replaced by electronic mail, and overhead projectors by power point. It also makes me anxious to see how things will be in another fifteen years from now. What will be the new email, or the new way of reading lyrics to worship songs in our churches? I truly can’t wait to find out.

Technology in Restaraunts

I was thinking about this the other day when I was working. I have been working at the Cleveland Country Club for almost 2 years now, and along with being one of the most experienced server/bartender in any given restaraunt, comes more responsibility. Well, as part of my responsibility I have to do inventory on all of the alchohol in the building about once a month. I don’t know if you have ever been to the Country Club, but it’s pretty large, and there is a lot of alchohol to inventory. Basically what it comes down to is I have a spreadsheet of all of the different kinds of alchohol for all of the different places it is located in the building, and I go through and mark how much of each kind we have. This can often be tedious, and very time consuming because there are a lot of places that are unorganized, so you find several different kinds of alchohol in several different places, so you have to go back and erase your numbers and change them over and over.

I thought that if there was some sort of handheld electronic device, even if it was a simple as a palm pilot, that had some sort of software on it that I could just call up a certain type of alchohol, and make a mark every time I found it, that it would be much more easy to deal with, and a lot less messy. I’m sure there is something comprable to this out there, I have just not experienced it. Does anyone know if this sort of thing is widely used, and if so how i could get a hold of it for my work?

Response: Computing God, by Jordan Lee.

So I was interested to see Jordan’s project after he so devoutly supported apple earlier in the semester. I think that Jordan was right, in that some of the information in his video is kind of a stretch, but it is definitely creative nonetheless. I found the information very interesting, and it left me wanting to do a little research of my own on the subject. (which probably won’t happen because I’m so burnt out on school right now.) But anyways, I thought that out of all the projects that I saw, (admittedly, I didn’t see all of them), Jordan’s had the most creative imagination to it. The reason I say this, is because he didn’t just research something boring and try to present it in a cvreative way. Instead he had some original creative thought, that he put into action for the project. Anyways, that’s enough Jordan praise for the day.

p.s. the only things I have left to finish for this semester at all are these blogs and the reflection paper. Thanks Trow, for the busy work!!! Just kidding. Kind of.

Response: Is it too soon? Is it too far?

The answer is yes, it is too soon, and it is too far. This blog is in response to Joey’s about the popular RPG, “Super Columbine Massacre.” Usually I don’t get on a soap box about these sort of things, but this is really depressing. The fact that someone would be interested in playing this sort of game, based on real events, with real people’s names is deeply disturbing. This is what bothers me about technology. People always take something that is good, and twist it into something horrible. Just because we have the technology to do something like that, doesn’t mean we should. In my opinion, this game is just a sad commentary on the state of our society.

This is a video that Joey did not have, but it actually makes me feel frightened watching it.

Response: Conspiracy Subculture Influence on the Mass Media

As I was loking through a few of the blogs from my classmates, I randomly stumbled upon this one. It caught my attention because of one word in the title. Conspiracy. I don’t consider myself to be a conspiracy theorist, but I do enjoy reading about different theories, because they interest me. This includes theories about everything from 9/11, to Masonry, and also occassionally JFK and his assasination. Anyways, that’s neither here nor there. One particular sentence stuck out to me in Ms. Rogers’ blog… “The theorists behind conspiracies, such as the Kennedy Assassination and the 9/11 Attacks, are aimed at achieving popular control, manipulating public consensus and influencing public attitudes by providing alternatives to messages given by the media.” The problem I have with this is that the conspiracy theorists would argue that they are not the ones who are manipulating the public consensus, but rather the government is the one doing this. Once again, I’m not saying I agree with all of their opinions, but I must admit that these theorists raise many good points, and also that our government doesn’t tell us everything that we should know.

The media certianly have their agendas, and go about pushing them in several different ways. It is our job as humans, Christians, Americans to dechipher what is truth, and what is not.

On that note I leave you with one of the smartest verbal arguments you will see between my hero, Stephen Colbert, and that other guy from Fox.

the google phone

The iphone may have its first real competitor starting as early as Q1 of 2008. There have been several rumors circulating about the “google phone,” and what exactly it will offer.

Google will be creating a special version of Google maps, complete with GPS tracking system. It will also apparently be compatible with G-mail, and Google Calenders. I will be interested to see how they are going to try to match the physical finesse of the iphone, because i have seen several different “prototype” pictures of the said phone. Here is one that actually looks pretty cool, but I’m not sure if this is supposed to be the final product or not.

What are your thoughts on google’s attempt to take on the cellular market, and compete with apple?

-andrew pope
(still playing too many video games.)

Why I am not doing this… (as much as i should be)

when i look at the amount of blogs i have on here, or the lack therof rather, i ask myself one thing. why have i not been keeping up with this as i should have been? is it the inherent “senioritis”, or is it just that i’m filling my free time with other things?

The answer is the latter. with the recent release of video games such as halo 3, and even more recently call of duty 4, I have spent most of my time with these things. why? well first of all because playing these games are way more fun than doing homework, although playing video games doesn’t give me good grades.

when i heard that the call of duty series was moving from its familiar WWII theme, to a modern warfare theme, i was worried, frustrated, and i had decided that it wasn’t going to be as good as the previous installments…

…and then i bought it. and wow, this game is a beauty. seriously, this is the best looking, and most intense video game i have ever seen, or played in my life. so with 16 school days left in the semester, I’m left with a choice… play video games, or tough it out and hold on until christmas break so i can ace all my classes, and still graduate in may.

it is a tough decision, but alas, I am here writing a blog right now, while i can hear my roomates playing C.O.D., the sound of modern warfare eminates from the surround sound in my living room. this is me trying to make the right decision albeit a hard one.

p.s. here is a video of the game i wish i was playing right now. amazing.

Leopard!

Well, the new Mac operating system is finally out. Does anyone know where I can download it for free? Hah, just kidding. (sort of)

There are many improvements that have been made from previous operating systems. The first one is the look and usablilty of the desktop with new file stacks that allow a more “clutter-free” workspace.

Probably my favorite update is the new “spaces” feature. It’s attraction is the ability to group different application windows into different areas of the machine.

It seems that the overall goal for this new OS, was to create a virtually clutterless  system for improved organization, and overall user friendliness.

game, set, match… your turn PC.

Here is a link to a video previewing all the new features if you are interested.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=iH48YhYywzY