i don't really like the idea of writing here just for the sake of writing here (i.e., i hope to have something of at least trivial importance to say, some point of sorts...as opposed to just putting words on a page so to speak). At the same time I still feel at a loss for topics of significant importance when in comes to writing here.
by significant importance i don't mean things that really matter in the grand scheme of things but rather things that inspire me to write, topics i actually sit around and am like: damn, i need to write about that. as i've said before i feel this lack in writing of recent has to do with a multitude of factors, one of the biggest being the fact that i've already written so much.
yet i still get urges to write. i was sitting at work today and really, really wanted to write on my blog. i guess it's kinda like crack in a way...an addiction of sorts. from writing so much it's something i because accustomed to do, writing everyday or every couple of days. now i need to write just to feel normal...haha. thankfully it isn't truly an addiction: i still really enjoy writing and it's not just something i need a fix of but rather something that provides a lot to and for me.
___
anyway...one thing i've given thought to as of late is, as always music. i'm always in need of more music, something new, something i haven't heard before. during law school i sent out a mass email asking for musical recommendations, with an emphasis on the old school [be it old school hip-hop or old school r&b - from early 90s and 80s stuff all the way back to motown].
i feel like some ppl who know me best understand my passion for music and i think it's pretty obvious how much i love it. but sadly my musical knowledge is lacking, especially when it comes to the musical past. sadly i didn't look into nearly enough of the stuff recommend. i should dig around and see if i can find those old emails. i also want to send out another one [but mass emails always seem to receive a less than warm welcome] obviously i'd welcome anyone suggestions here...feel free to leave a comment [no matter how long it gets, i'd be more than happy to have stuff to look into, listen to, and just get to discover]. seriously, any recommendations are more than welcome, be it something u think i would like or just some of your favorite stuff...
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speaking of mass emails, be on the lookout for a short one from me in a couple of weeks. i've been sleeping on updating this news, but i found a new place to live! it's a whopping 35 feet or so away from...
where i live right now! HA! it turns out that i got really lazy about moving and am just going to move into a bigger apartment in my building. it's on the same floor, so moving should be easier. in the end the laziness came about due to a couple of different factors: 1) i hadn't found a new place to live by the time i needed to give 30 days notice, 2) this way i can save on not having to throw down a new security deposit or rent a truck, 3) the rent is really good for what i'm getting, 4) i'm going to rock a 9 month lease which will run out during the same month i'll hit 1 yr of employment (assuming i don't get fired b4 then), 5) i get like 8 days to move stuff down the hall b4 i have to be out of my current apartment...
so, i'll shoot out an email soon with the new address...and by address i mean new apartment #...haha...anyone interested in coming over for a house warming part sometime in November?
___
well...i should get to bed...a couple of my boys are rolling down to LA tomorrow nite which should make for an awesome weekend. it'll be nice having visitors instead of being the visitor, especially since i'm always crashing with these guys...anyone else wanna come visit me in LA? holla at me and let me know...soon i'll be in a 1 bedroom apartment and u'll have an actual place to sleep besides my floor [altho i borrowed a king-size aerobed for my boys...which it probably nicer than the thing i sleep on as of now...can't wait to get a new bed and a phat new TV]
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
getting back to it...
after writing about how i need to get back to writing here, i somehow managed to no just the opposite. personally, it kinda gnaws at me on some silly level [in the sense that i'm not writing and also in that i said i would do X and took longer than i should have to do so]. i've slacked off, been uninspired [mainly due to wanting to write about topics i sometimes feel are too serious for this arena], and just been busy.
but enough with the excuses and on to whatever comes out of my mind...
so, i made what i believe was my 5th trip in 7 weekends up to SF this past weekend. the reason this trip was a bit different was most ppl didn't know about my plan. i wanted to surprise a couple different ppl and definitely succeeded with at least one of them...as for the other, read on... some highlights (as per usual post-SF blogging):
____________________
as for more serious topics, there have been many articles in the news lately of serious interest to me. while i spent a lot of time pontificating on the issues and writing about them, sadly it was in another forum (albeit one i thoroughly enjoy and waste too much time whilst at work on). even so, some thoughts of late...
the music industry:
The music industry won the first case brought against an alleged file-sharer to actually go get to a jury. Most of the thousands of other cases all ended in settlements for a few thousand dollars. [Interestingly, I saw somewhere that the recording industry is losing money thru all the settlements because the legal fees from bringing the claims in the first place are higher than what is received thru the settlements...I dunno whether that is true or not altho it does seem likely.] It's really unfortunate to see the recording industry sue its customers. beyond being bad business, it just upsets me. By complaining about lagging CD sales and blaming it on file-sharing and suing everyone in sight, the recording industry is screwing up in a handful of ways.
If good music is being made and the cost of said music is reasonable, I guarantee people would purchase it, even with file-sharing technology around making it easy to get what you want for free. I have gone out and bought many albums from my favorite artists because I know the music is good and I want to support these individuals, even if they don't really need the money. Could I just go ahead and download the music illegally for free? Of course I could. But the reason I don't is because I want to show my support and appreciation for something/someone...not because the law says no [don't get me wrong, I'm in no rush to do what I'm not allowed to but my point is that the real motivation is something the record companies can influence whereas it is much harder to deter someone from file-sharing, as the lawsuits show because even tho they're suing everyone it still happens].
The way the recording industry is set up takes away all the proper incentives: it takes away the incentive to make really good music, it takes away the incentive to pay for music. Beyond not wanting to buy crappy music, think about this: the artists make their money off of touring and merchandise sales [not records sales and not even licensing deals because the record companies own the master copies and licensing rights to the music for the most part]. So, if I care about an artist and want to support the artist, I'll do more in that endeavor by going to a concert or buying a t-shirt. I could go on for days, but I really shouldn't.
To be honest, a few months of work has shown me [as mentioned previously] that there are some things in life I am really passionate about and I want those things to be a part of my work life as well. Hopefully, in time, I will be able to bring everything in line [that's what it's all about right, taking a step forward so you can get closer to where you want to be?] and possibly make some small difference I feel is meaningful [i.e., I'm going to change the world in a big way for the better...ha!].
But yea, the music industry is all kinds of jacked up and it's unfortunate because there is so much potential. It's clear musicians aren't in it just for the money [or that many aren't]. Think about how many friends you have who are in a band or just think about how many bands there are out there playing local gigs, making no money off their music but continuing to make music and perform. I'm sure some people are about the money and that's unfortunate. There's nothing wrong with making big money off it I guess, but it shouldn't be why you do something like create music. But my point is that there are so many people out there willing to make amazing music for no money at all. The money only matters because of the record companies; they're ones who are only concerned with the bottom line, as opposed to artistic integrity, creativity, quality. Yes, musicians should be rewarded monetarily for their efforts [I'm not about to go off and say they don't deserve to get paid], but for all the griping about file-sharing, it's not the artist who is complaining too much [or even the one hurt by it all]. To shift topics, speaking of people getting paid...
____________________
education in america...
I've come across a few articles about the current status of education in this country over the past few weeks. There was the results of the "No Child Left Behind" program, showing moderate [if even that] gains in some areas [altho there were no gains in others]. Articles on affirmative action were also of interest. An op-ed about the need for better education overall came across my eyes and pretty much summed up a lot of what the other articles inspired in my mind.
I am not going to debate whether or not affirmative action is a good or bad thing [I find Clarence Thomas's opinions on the matter rather annoying and foolish...altho I feel that way about many of his opinions] and I don't know enough about "No Child Left Behind" to fairly speak on it [altho I'm sure I could sound like I know enough to do so, haha].
At the end of the day, I'm just going to get back to my point from a few posts ago: the education system in this country is in need of severe repair. The disparity in terms of the best and worst schools is deplorable and robs so many individuals of the opportunity to learn, grow, and make a difference in this world. I know I am blessed when it comes to schooling: I went to a funky and amazing Montessori school for elementary school and then an amazing college prep school for junior high [what we termed "middle school"] and high school. After that [and largely because of the schools I went to] I went on to UCLA and then Hastings for law school. I'm sure there are a ton of kids out there who could or could have accomplished much more than I if given the opportunities I received. Not to say I didn't take advantage of the opportunities or try my best...I just know there are people more gifted than I am [ok, so maybe not but still].
Anyway, it shouldn't be like that. I mean, to a certain extent there must be individual accountability and certain people need to also take some level of responsibility, such as parents. You can't force anyone to learn in the end, but parents can play a crucial role in creating the desire to learn, grow, succeed. But beyond that, the system needs to do the same. There should be books, there should be good teachers who inspire students, there should be so many things that are missing right now.
Speaking of teachers, now I can explain how I got here from the music industry. I've discussed whether or not entertainers [such as musicians, actors, etc.] and athletes are overpaid for what they go. My opinions aside, it's clear that the educators of our future are, for the most part, not paid well enough. Apparently we don't value those who play one of the biggest roles in molding and shaping out futures. Personally, the teachers throughout my life in 'lower' education [if college and grad school are 'higher' education I'm assuming high school and earlier are 'lower'] played significant roles in my life. I feel they provided a sense of direction and imparted certain lessons, values, attitudes, or maybe just ways of thinking that have stuck with me throughout my life and gotten me to where I am now.
There are many great teachers out there and I'm sure there are many not great teachers too. I think we need to appreciate our educators more and obviously compensate them better, but at the same time it's also important to ensure they are doing a good job. One of the articles I read showed how paper tests done to evaluate teachers are pretty much useless; something needs to be done about that fact. You can't just throw money at any problem; you need to ensure high quality teachers are available to all and at every level. Problems like a lack of diversity in higher education and just the general academic failings of this country occur on many levels and it is important to address each level, with a focus on getting to the root of it all.
____________________
In the end I get frustrated with myself. I sit here with all these opinions on matters but don't do much about them. I was definitely not the public interest person at Hastings and never did much but sit and study in college. When it comes to my career ambitions they're aligned more along the lines of the artistic/creative...almost getting into the entertainment field [altho I honestly believe my passions lie in something deeper than just becoming some hot shot entertainment lawyer]. I do hope to at the least use my law degree to make some contribution to the artistic world.
As a way of combining the two big topics of this ridiculous post, I'll write about this: programs like "Save the Music" are awesome. I learned about how important extracurricular activities can be for kids in elementary school and high school. In particular, it appears that music programs and other arts can be particularly beneficial. As of now I'd like to find my way into some involvement along those lines and more generally supporting the arts.
It's easy to look at the arts and just see the mainstream: see the actors and the performers on the big stage. When looked at in this manner one sees a certain triviality to being involved in that world: the Hollywood image where people are just overly rich, get away with anything they want, and so on. That's not really the world I envisions myself a part of with my legal career. Don't get me wrong, I would like to be a part of certain portions of that world. I would like to be a part of the music industry, hopefully generating some amount of change and doing more to protect the creators, more to ensure a higher quality product is produced, more to make the industry thrive for the right reasons [as opposed to bullying people who really can't do much but give in, hopefully being able to pay the few thousands just to settle]. But I would also like to work with smaller artists, to work with arts foundations and organizations that help out the struggling artist who just needs the right opportunity or that ensure kids in schools get the chance to explore their creative abilities.
I'm sure some of this is just a romantic vision of life I possess. Some of it is simply an interest in a variety of different things because I'm young, inexperienced, and don't know precisely what I want to do with my life. Another factor is the not necessarily knowing exactly how to get where I want to be problem. Anyway, enough rambling...I guess this is what happens when you go a while without blogging after doing so consistently for a period of time. But will I have anything else to write about anytime soon?
Well, to cap off...here are some of the articles I read that inspired some of tonite's thoughts [I actually started this post while at work today and then just now finished it up...]:
but enough with the excuses and on to whatever comes out of my mind...
so, i made what i believe was my 5th trip in 7 weekends up to SF this past weekend. the reason this trip was a bit different was most ppl didn't know about my plan. i wanted to surprise a couple different ppl and definitely succeeded with at least one of them...as for the other, read on... some highlights (as per usual post-SF blogging):
- winning the breakfast sammich of my choice by playing the McDonald's Monopoly game as I drove north
- actually succeeding in surprising someone (i can be terrible at keeping a surprise from someone)
- Bugs sniffing my butt (I'm referring to a dog, not insects...how gross would that be?!?!?!?!)
- not surprising Peter because he wasn't at the Bayside when I was
- being funny and going shopping with Peter and also taking in The Kingdom
- the classy dinner: pepperoni pizza and chicken kickers from Domino's
- Crashing girls nite out
- really funny attempts at getting into the clubs in North Beach without waiting in any of the lines
- ending up back at Fuse (and the 5 minutes of good music - 5 minutes of bad music rotation)
- 'fishing' back!
- "Are your friends into Korean men? Are they into affirmative action?"
- more late nite Chinese food
- breakfast of champions: double bacon cheeseburger from Burger King
- finally playing some golf and getting to catch up with a good buddy from law school
- the perfect fall weather up in SF
____________________
as for more serious topics, there have been many articles in the news lately of serious interest to me. while i spent a lot of time pontificating on the issues and writing about them, sadly it was in another forum (albeit one i thoroughly enjoy and waste too much time whilst at work on). even so, some thoughts of late...
the music industry:
The music industry won the first case brought against an alleged file-sharer to actually go get to a jury. Most of the thousands of other cases all ended in settlements for a few thousand dollars. [Interestingly, I saw somewhere that the recording industry is losing money thru all the settlements because the legal fees from bringing the claims in the first place are higher than what is received thru the settlements...I dunno whether that is true or not altho it does seem likely.] It's really unfortunate to see the recording industry sue its customers. beyond being bad business, it just upsets me. By complaining about lagging CD sales and blaming it on file-sharing and suing everyone in sight, the recording industry is screwing up in a handful of ways.
- It's as if they're trying to force CDs down our throats by pinning the blame in the way they do.
- They refuse to take any semblance of responsibility for the decline in sales [where is the accountability: how come no one saw this technology coming? why, when it became so hugely popular did they try to shut it down as opposed to embrace? what about all the crappy music that is out there these day?].
- They're alienating their customers by attacking them. Pushing away customers is not going to help CD sales or digital sales either.
- One of the legal minds at Sony argued that ripping a CD to your computer and placing the ripped music on your mp3 player is stealing - why is someone paying for such ridiculous arguments? And does Sony expect anyone to buy the CD and then go ahead and buy the mp3 as well?
- They're failing to realize that their current business model is flawed and that, in the end, music is about music, not profits and making money and the bottom line.
If good music is being made and the cost of said music is reasonable, I guarantee people would purchase it, even with file-sharing technology around making it easy to get what you want for free. I have gone out and bought many albums from my favorite artists because I know the music is good and I want to support these individuals, even if they don't really need the money. Could I just go ahead and download the music illegally for free? Of course I could. But the reason I don't is because I want to show my support and appreciation for something/someone...not because the law says no [don't get me wrong, I'm in no rush to do what I'm not allowed to but my point is that the real motivation is something the record companies can influence whereas it is much harder to deter someone from file-sharing, as the lawsuits show because even tho they're suing everyone it still happens].
The way the recording industry is set up takes away all the proper incentives: it takes away the incentive to make really good music, it takes away the incentive to pay for music. Beyond not wanting to buy crappy music, think about this: the artists make their money off of touring and merchandise sales [not records sales and not even licensing deals because the record companies own the master copies and licensing rights to the music for the most part]. So, if I care about an artist and want to support the artist, I'll do more in that endeavor by going to a concert or buying a t-shirt. I could go on for days, but I really shouldn't.
To be honest, a few months of work has shown me [as mentioned previously] that there are some things in life I am really passionate about and I want those things to be a part of my work life as well. Hopefully, in time, I will be able to bring everything in line [that's what it's all about right, taking a step forward so you can get closer to where you want to be?] and possibly make some small difference I feel is meaningful [i.e., I'm going to change the world in a big way for the better...ha!].
But yea, the music industry is all kinds of jacked up and it's unfortunate because there is so much potential. It's clear musicians aren't in it just for the money [or that many aren't]. Think about how many friends you have who are in a band or just think about how many bands there are out there playing local gigs, making no money off their music but continuing to make music and perform. I'm sure some people are about the money and that's unfortunate. There's nothing wrong with making big money off it I guess, but it shouldn't be why you do something like create music. But my point is that there are so many people out there willing to make amazing music for no money at all. The money only matters because of the record companies; they're ones who are only concerned with the bottom line, as opposed to artistic integrity, creativity, quality. Yes, musicians should be rewarded monetarily for their efforts [I'm not about to go off and say they don't deserve to get paid], but for all the griping about file-sharing, it's not the artist who is complaining too much [or even the one hurt by it all]. To shift topics, speaking of people getting paid...
____________________
education in america...
I've come across a few articles about the current status of education in this country over the past few weeks. There was the results of the "No Child Left Behind" program, showing moderate [if even that] gains in some areas [altho there were no gains in others]. Articles on affirmative action were also of interest. An op-ed about the need for better education overall came across my eyes and pretty much summed up a lot of what the other articles inspired in my mind.
I am not going to debate whether or not affirmative action is a good or bad thing [I find Clarence Thomas's opinions on the matter rather annoying and foolish...altho I feel that way about many of his opinions] and I don't know enough about "No Child Left Behind" to fairly speak on it [altho I'm sure I could sound like I know enough to do so, haha].
At the end of the day, I'm just going to get back to my point from a few posts ago: the education system in this country is in need of severe repair. The disparity in terms of the best and worst schools is deplorable and robs so many individuals of the opportunity to learn, grow, and make a difference in this world. I know I am blessed when it comes to schooling: I went to a funky and amazing Montessori school for elementary school and then an amazing college prep school for junior high [what we termed "middle school"] and high school. After that [and largely because of the schools I went to] I went on to UCLA and then Hastings for law school. I'm sure there are a ton of kids out there who could or could have accomplished much more than I if given the opportunities I received. Not to say I didn't take advantage of the opportunities or try my best...I just know there are people more gifted than I am [ok, so maybe not but still].
Anyway, it shouldn't be like that. I mean, to a certain extent there must be individual accountability and certain people need to also take some level of responsibility, such as parents. You can't force anyone to learn in the end, but parents can play a crucial role in creating the desire to learn, grow, succeed. But beyond that, the system needs to do the same. There should be books, there should be good teachers who inspire students, there should be so many things that are missing right now.
Speaking of teachers, now I can explain how I got here from the music industry. I've discussed whether or not entertainers [such as musicians, actors, etc.] and athletes are overpaid for what they go. My opinions aside, it's clear that the educators of our future are, for the most part, not paid well enough. Apparently we don't value those who play one of the biggest roles in molding and shaping out futures. Personally, the teachers throughout my life in 'lower' education [if college and grad school are 'higher' education I'm assuming high school and earlier are 'lower'] played significant roles in my life. I feel they provided a sense of direction and imparted certain lessons, values, attitudes, or maybe just ways of thinking that have stuck with me throughout my life and gotten me to where I am now.
There are many great teachers out there and I'm sure there are many not great teachers too. I think we need to appreciate our educators more and obviously compensate them better, but at the same time it's also important to ensure they are doing a good job. One of the articles I read showed how paper tests done to evaluate teachers are pretty much useless; something needs to be done about that fact. You can't just throw money at any problem; you need to ensure high quality teachers are available to all and at every level. Problems like a lack of diversity in higher education and just the general academic failings of this country occur on many levels and it is important to address each level, with a focus on getting to the root of it all.
____________________
In the end I get frustrated with myself. I sit here with all these opinions on matters but don't do much about them. I was definitely not the public interest person at Hastings and never did much but sit and study in college. When it comes to my career ambitions they're aligned more along the lines of the artistic/creative...almost getting into the entertainment field [altho I honestly believe my passions lie in something deeper than just becoming some hot shot entertainment lawyer]. I do hope to at the least use my law degree to make some contribution to the artistic world.
As a way of combining the two big topics of this ridiculous post, I'll write about this: programs like "Save the Music" are awesome. I learned about how important extracurricular activities can be for kids in elementary school and high school. In particular, it appears that music programs and other arts can be particularly beneficial. As of now I'd like to find my way into some involvement along those lines and more generally supporting the arts.
It's easy to look at the arts and just see the mainstream: see the actors and the performers on the big stage. When looked at in this manner one sees a certain triviality to being involved in that world: the Hollywood image where people are just overly rich, get away with anything they want, and so on. That's not really the world I envisions myself a part of with my legal career. Don't get me wrong, I would like to be a part of certain portions of that world. I would like to be a part of the music industry, hopefully generating some amount of change and doing more to protect the creators, more to ensure a higher quality product is produced, more to make the industry thrive for the right reasons [as opposed to bullying people who really can't do much but give in, hopefully being able to pay the few thousands just to settle]. But I would also like to work with smaller artists, to work with arts foundations and organizations that help out the struggling artist who just needs the right opportunity or that ensure kids in schools get the chance to explore their creative abilities.
I'm sure some of this is just a romantic vision of life I possess. Some of it is simply an interest in a variety of different things because I'm young, inexperienced, and don't know precisely what I want to do with my life. Another factor is the not necessarily knowing exactly how to get where I want to be problem. Anyway, enough rambling...I guess this is what happens when you go a while without blogging after doing so consistently for a period of time. But will I have anything else to write about anytime soon?
Well, to cap off...here are some of the articles I read that inspired some of tonite's thoughts [I actually started this post while at work today and then just now finished it up...]:
- the future of the music industry: a quorum
- Music industry sues it's customers and wins...sadness
- related: wow, going after someone with 2 kids who makes $36,ooo a year - the recording industry must really be pressed for cash [I guess it's not as bad as when they named some kid in one of their suits]
- Sony's lame thievery argument [this one really upsets me]
- Radiohead says pay what u want
- an article on affirmative action
- the need for better schools
- an interesting article about college admissions
- a funny open letter to the RIAA
- my nerdy side: a legal look at the appeal in the RIAA's most recent victory
- is the RIAA losing money on all of this?
- file-sharing continues to grow
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
i'm at work
but my blogging has fallen off and it's starting to annoy me. there are a variety of reasons for it, including writing in other spaces and talking to ppl and just being plain preoccupied, distracted, and what not...but this is me saying i'm going to get back to writing more and by making that claim hopefully providing an incentive to do so (i.e., i like to follow thru on things). so...stayed tune for more soon (hopefully tonite).
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
musical politicking...
Before I get serious, I came across this quote late last nite:
I'm not trying to toot my own horn by pointing out this quote. Honestly I found it really interesting to hear it coming from someone who actually does create art for a living, as opposed to just a silly thought I had one day. Obviously artists put out something particular for the world to see, something they want everyone to see. But at the end of the day we each take what we want, need, or just do from the things we observe.
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Speaking of which, a friend sent me this article from the New York Times website today [it's actually an article from the AP, another article on the topic can be found here]. [Let me note that I could easily lose myself in that website, I always fund something worth reading after I feel like there can't be anything else worth reading]. As I told my friend, it's a situation I'm rather torn on.
For those not interested in reading the article(s), the backdrop for this personal discussion I'm having with my mind is about the Congressional hearing that took place today (technically yesterday now) regarding the use of degrading language in hip-hop music. It's been much more of a topic of discussion since the Don Imus scandal.
I don't know if I'm capable of giving my thoughts justice in writing here but I find myself confused on where to stand on the issue. Yes, somethings are really offensive, unnecessary, and to be honest somewhat deleterious. At the same time, being of an oftentimes liberal mind and thinking about the First Amendment and law school, I'm a firm believer in free speech rights and strongly disagree with censorship. This is especially true in the artistic realm [although one possible argument is that for many it's not being an artist, it's a way "to make money money money make money money money"]. Stifling the creative process, even when said process runs along [or even passes] the line of decency is something I cannot agree with even if in some cases it makes sense.
Don't get me wrong: I'm not saying I want to hear degrading lyrics or want to support someone like Don Imus. Far from it. I definitely possess my personal beliefs on many different topics and they are often known to those around me. But just because I disagree with something or don't enjoy it doesn't mean I need to stamp it out. Also, is it possible there is some artistic or cultural merit to at least some of all this language that some want to do away with? [In addition, another article I read on the hearings today included a point made by Universal Music Group chairman and CEO Doug Morris when he noted that no one is pushing to do away with "'The Bitch Is Back' by Elton John even thought it contains one of the words some want to ban.
A ban on a few words is just silly. Words exist for a reason. They are a cultural creation and to a certain extent they possess whatever power you allow them too. Obviously certain words are very charged and just never need to be said, especially in certain contexts or used in certain ways or used at all. But to attempt to ban words makes no sense when some other word will just be used in their place.
Further, there was a time when even jazz music was considered unholy and wrong and inappropriate it. As for rap music, there definitely is some crap out there but an attempt to censor it or to ban certain words or anything along those lines will likely result in a reduction in creativity. The danger is that in doing away with the worst you will do away with things that are of merit, that truly are art, that possess a relevance, importance, lesson, story, or message that needs to be heard.
In the end, you can always choose to not listen to it. For me it kinda boils down to my thoughts on violence in video games and TV. It seems obvious exposure to such things can have an effect on children and people in general. But I feel that we need to take roles in the lives of children and ensure they can tell the difference between reality and fantasy. To be honest, when I was younger my dad wasn't a huge fan of be getting into rap music. But I knew it was just music, it was just words and not more than that. Having parents or other figures around to ensure children understand the difference between the creative world and how life really functions and how life should function when it is falling short of the ideal is more important than just trying to hide some words.
There needs to be some level of individual accountability in society and we should also hold ourselves more accountable for those around us whom we exert some influence over. We can all learn from each other and educate each other. Learning from one another, hearing diverse points of view, opening up to the world can provide a better understanding for the context which things originate from. With this understanding, maybe rap isn't the evil some make it out to be. Of course there are things that just don't need to be there, but isn't that true for every other art form? Extremes exist at both ends of the spectrum.
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I also found this article on the New York Times website today. It's about how exclusive colleges are, in terms of socioeconomic status in particular. The author, an op-ed contributor, basically argues for class-based affirmative action when it comes to college admissions.
It's an interesting theory, as affirmative action based on race is as well. I'm not going to go into thoughts on affirmative action in any great depth [I'm simply too tired to do so and I'd rather have that discussion with anyone interested in person, allowing for more of a open back-and-forth of opinions and ideas]. But I will say this: I always feel the root of the problem is at a much lower level than college admissions. The real problem is the education system in this country, starting well before college. I'm yet to meet someone who really disagrees with this point and it makes me wonder why there isn't more of a focus on lower education. Obviously it would require an enormous effort for the necessary overhaul to occur, but isn't that all the more reason to focus efforts there, as opposed to other areas?
To conclude, I remember learning in a psych class in college that we only remember 5%-10% of anything we're taught in college. That's sad.
But outside of that, I just made it so it's also good music. It can be your interpretation of what you want it to be, however you want to enjoy it.He was referring to how some of the songs on The Cool are about a character from his first album, Food & Liquor. Anyway, I've long felt that way about art in general and it's a sentiment expressed probably a few times on this blog: for me, either in creating something or observing something, interpretation plays a huge role. It's something the artist cannot take into account, aside from having his or her own interpretation, and it is something that is informed by our life experiences (and possibly inexperiences) as individuals.
- Lupe Fiasco on his upcoming album The Cool
I'm not trying to toot my own horn by pointing out this quote. Honestly I found it really interesting to hear it coming from someone who actually does create art for a living, as opposed to just a silly thought I had one day. Obviously artists put out something particular for the world to see, something they want everyone to see. But at the end of the day we each take what we want, need, or just do from the things we observe.
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Speaking of which, a friend sent me this article from the New York Times website today [it's actually an article from the AP, another article on the topic can be found here]. [Let me note that I could easily lose myself in that website, I always fund something worth reading after I feel like there can't be anything else worth reading]. As I told my friend, it's a situation I'm rather torn on.
For those not interested in reading the article(s), the backdrop for this personal discussion I'm having with my mind is about the Congressional hearing that took place today (technically yesterday now) regarding the use of degrading language in hip-hop music. It's been much more of a topic of discussion since the Don Imus scandal.
I don't know if I'm capable of giving my thoughts justice in writing here but I find myself confused on where to stand on the issue. Yes, somethings are really offensive, unnecessary, and to be honest somewhat deleterious. At the same time, being of an oftentimes liberal mind and thinking about the First Amendment and law school, I'm a firm believer in free speech rights and strongly disagree with censorship. This is especially true in the artistic realm [although one possible argument is that for many it's not being an artist, it's a way "to make money money money make money money money"]. Stifling the creative process, even when said process runs along [or even passes] the line of decency is something I cannot agree with even if in some cases it makes sense.
Don't get me wrong: I'm not saying I want to hear degrading lyrics or want to support someone like Don Imus. Far from it. I definitely possess my personal beliefs on many different topics and they are often known to those around me. But just because I disagree with something or don't enjoy it doesn't mean I need to stamp it out. Also, is it possible there is some artistic or cultural merit to at least some of all this language that some want to do away with? [In addition, another article I read on the hearings today included a point made by Universal Music Group chairman and CEO Doug Morris when he noted that no one is pushing to do away with "'The Bitch Is Back' by Elton John even thought it contains one of the words some want to ban.
A ban on a few words is just silly. Words exist for a reason. They are a cultural creation and to a certain extent they possess whatever power you allow them too. Obviously certain words are very charged and just never need to be said, especially in certain contexts or used in certain ways or used at all. But to attempt to ban words makes no sense when some other word will just be used in their place.
Further, there was a time when even jazz music was considered unholy and wrong and inappropriate it. As for rap music, there definitely is some crap out there but an attempt to censor it or to ban certain words or anything along those lines will likely result in a reduction in creativity. The danger is that in doing away with the worst you will do away with things that are of merit, that truly are art, that possess a relevance, importance, lesson, story, or message that needs to be heard.
In the end, you can always choose to not listen to it. For me it kinda boils down to my thoughts on violence in video games and TV. It seems obvious exposure to such things can have an effect on children and people in general. But I feel that we need to take roles in the lives of children and ensure they can tell the difference between reality and fantasy. To be honest, when I was younger my dad wasn't a huge fan of be getting into rap music. But I knew it was just music, it was just words and not more than that. Having parents or other figures around to ensure children understand the difference between the creative world and how life really functions and how life should function when it is falling short of the ideal is more important than just trying to hide some words.
There needs to be some level of individual accountability in society and we should also hold ourselves more accountable for those around us whom we exert some influence over. We can all learn from each other and educate each other. Learning from one another, hearing diverse points of view, opening up to the world can provide a better understanding for the context which things originate from. With this understanding, maybe rap isn't the evil some make it out to be. Of course there are things that just don't need to be there, but isn't that true for every other art form? Extremes exist at both ends of the spectrum.
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I also found this article on the New York Times website today. It's about how exclusive colleges are, in terms of socioeconomic status in particular. The author, an op-ed contributor, basically argues for class-based affirmative action when it comes to college admissions.
It's an interesting theory, as affirmative action based on race is as well. I'm not going to go into thoughts on affirmative action in any great depth [I'm simply too tired to do so and I'd rather have that discussion with anyone interested in person, allowing for more of a open back-and-forth of opinions and ideas]. But I will say this: I always feel the root of the problem is at a much lower level than college admissions. The real problem is the education system in this country, starting well before college. I'm yet to meet someone who really disagrees with this point and it makes me wonder why there isn't more of a focus on lower education. Obviously it would require an enormous effort for the necessary overhaul to occur, but isn't that all the more reason to focus efforts there, as opposed to other areas?
To conclude, I remember learning in a psych class in college that we only remember 5%-10% of anything we're taught in college. That's sad.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
another weekend and well, u know..
another weekend is over (and the new work week is already a day over actually), which means i made yet another trip to the Bay area. ha! i've decided Glendale is my home away from home. =p
anyway, it's late, i'm tired, and instead of this i should be sleeping...but oh well. i always like to write after my trips north and sometimes i actually have something interesting to say in this space. while i've got a couple of articles i've read recently i'd like to discuss, now is so not the time for that but i will get to them soon...
a rundown of some weekend highlights...
anyway, it's late, i'm tired, and instead of this i should be sleeping...but oh well. i always like to write after my trips north and sometimes i actually have something interesting to say in this space. while i've got a couple of articles i've read recently i'd like to discuss, now is so not the time for that but i will get to them soon...
a rundown of some weekend highlights...
- um...watching The Last King of Scotland
- kicking it old school at the Bayside with Deefs and a few others
- Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeechigan winning an important game
- a tasty dinner at E & O Trading Company and a not awesome movie after (Good Luck Chuck - it had a few moments and way too many unnecessary boobs)
- discussing Justin Timberlake's growth as an artist/performer while watching an old concert from his Justified days
- chocolate chip (or really chunk) pancakes (mmm....yummy) and actually eating some fruit for once (strawberries this time)
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
epic
As I sat at my desk a couple weeks ago Deefs hit me up on the gchat with an awesome random comment. He simply said, "dude, the only thing that allows me to continue feeling epic right now is trance." This was during his first week back after spending a month in Scotland, a place near and dear to his heart. I dunno how many people get what he was talking about, but I did right away.
I probably couldn't describe feeling epic. I kinda did in a post a while back about feeling glorious. It's just feeling exactly what it sounds like: epic - larger than life, amazing, on top of it all. It's a great feeling...and sadly, as Deefs pointed out, hard to maintain [especially after something like a month in Scotland for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival]. As with Deefs, music is something that often provides that feeling. Last nite I went for a run and that definitely made me feel epic [it's nice when working out makes u feel spectacular as opposed to worn out]. But it's definitely something to strive for and more importantly to enjoy when it happens.
Life is full of all kinds of moments. Sometimes it's just really stinking hard. But through the difficult experiences I've faced [which I make no claim have been the most difficult], in the end each one taught me something important and helped me develop into the person I am now. The epic moments allow u to see that, in spite of anything bad that happens, good times will come too. They're both a necessary part of life...I honestly believe one wouldn't be what it is without the other...
I probably couldn't describe feeling epic. I kinda did in a post a while back about feeling glorious. It's just feeling exactly what it sounds like: epic - larger than life, amazing, on top of it all. It's a great feeling...and sadly, as Deefs pointed out, hard to maintain [especially after something like a month in Scotland for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival]. As with Deefs, music is something that often provides that feeling. Last nite I went for a run and that definitely made me feel epic [it's nice when working out makes u feel spectacular as opposed to worn out]. But it's definitely something to strive for and more importantly to enjoy when it happens.
Life is full of all kinds of moments. Sometimes it's just really stinking hard. But through the difficult experiences I've faced [which I make no claim have been the most difficult], in the end each one taught me something important and helped me develop into the person I am now. The epic moments allow u to see that, in spite of anything bad that happens, good times will come too. They're both a necessary part of life...I honestly believe one wouldn't be what it is without the other...
and i don't care...
somehow it became 1:30-something and i'm not sure how. sleep is gonna happen soon but i wanted to write like i always do after making a run to the Bay. so yes, i made yet another run to the Bay area. this time the decision was made on saturday around noon or something. i was enticed by the promise of a 5 course meal with lots of bacon as well as good company. anywho. my name is Louis and i'm addicted to spur of the moment trips from LA to the Bay area. =p the first step is admitting u got a problem, right? haha. there are too many good reasons to get up there and apparently there are reasons i didn't know about until recently. =p
well...as per the usual...highlights from my about 24 hours up in the Bay area:
- getting passed by a bootleg looking ambulance that had to be pushing 110 mph [and was not racing to pcick up/drop off anyone]
- mmmm...bacon [and a really good dinner in general]
- making fun of Babel [Surprise!]
- petrified babies
- continuing to get to know ppl better
- getting fished [that's actually more of a lowlight than highlight]
- watching Sam get 'fished' [now that was funny!]
- Noodle Theory
- hearing "Every Little Step I Take" as I switched CDs in my car...just the pick up i needed with about 40 minutes left in my drive and weariness setting in
ok...now it's time for sleep.
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i still need and want to write about being epic. too tired to be epic right now, haha.