Trigger shy

This school year has been hell. Absolute hell.

25 credit hours, 8 classes, asinine amounts of material. Life has been less fun than a weekend at Guantanamo. All of these things have culminated into this week from hell.

On Thursday I had 4 exams and had to write a 15 page paper. Today I had a quiz and another exam. I've gotten less than 4 hours of sleep over the last 2 days and had no choice but to over-night it at UB for the first time in my four year career.

My eyes are bloodshot. My thoughts are frantic and broken. I'm grungy and definitely need a power shower. And my being overwhelmed with my situation surely had a negative effect on how I performed on my exams. There is just no way you can adequately study for 5 exams over 2 days.

I pray that this week from hell hasn't damned my entire semester. I've tried so hard. If one exam was to kill my grade, I'd have wasted 4 months of hard work and heartache. So much build up for such a giant letdown.

This can't happen. Can it?

I have this academic gun to my temple and it's as if John B. Simpson is yelling at me to pull the trigger but I'm understandably reluctant to do so.

I guess all I can do is pray or the best. You can pray for me too. If I fly on the wings of the Lord, theres no way he'll let me down.

Let us fly. Into the sunset. And winter break.

Oooh Derek

All good things must come to an end. The Sopranos. My sanity. Derek's long, illustrious ponytail.

Com 125. It's been a fun year. Dr. Derek has managed to infuse a dose of youth within his lectures, making class a lot more enjoyable and easy to participate in. What better environment to learn in than one where your voice is actually heard and you're enjoying yourself.

Lets look at the ups and downs.

The blogs were a fun and proactive way to learn. Everyone participated in class. Lectures were often fun and flew by. Aaron Moe, the lovable brown teddy bear in the front of the class was always there and brought a suave sexuality on a consistant basis. As if Derek wasn't reason enough to go to class...And we actually learned abut things relevant to our everyday lives now.

The downs. Sometimes lectures contained an overwhelming amount of material. Sometimes, and when I say sometimes I mean basically every class a certain girl who is on her high horse monopolized talk time. I'm sorry, but shut up. You're not Derek. Whenever I missed class, which was not often, there just so happened to be a "surprise, I gotcha John!" quiz.

And so we have today and our final. Let's hope Lackaff doesn't do us dirty and make an ungodly difficult examination. I'll miss this class. It's not often that I not only enjoy a class, but the professor as well.

Live free or die hard Derek. I wouldn't expect you to do it any other way.

And p.s. You're Samson. Keep the 'tail til the grave.

Dreams in Digital

Imagine, virtual Obama.

Those eloquently delivered speeches. Custom suits. Horribly Caucasian dance moves. But this time in 3-D, living it up in a virtual white house that you can tap into and view at any time, meeting all your O-needs and desires.

Well, not exactly. Life aint The Sims.


There's no denying that Americans are completely out of touch with not only the President, but the politicians that run our so called Democratic nation and make life changing decisions day to day. The problem though isn't with the common man, it's with those we've elected to represent us.

After they put on these huge facades, commonly referred to as campaigns, and earn their spot in the system of checks and unbalanced accounts, they run our country, cities, towns, and states with their own ideals and agendas. As our daily lives are altered by the eye of the elected beholder, we never have a chance to see what they're doing and why they're doing so.

It would be great if we could have a stronger say in what goes on, but we don't. Instead of trying to change an entire political system, we could, at the very least, become more informed on what exactly these politicians are doing and what exactly makes them qualified to be the ruling authority.

Marion Barry. Elliot Spitzer. Slick Willy.

Why have these men been elected? Because they talked the talk. And did it well. It sure as hell wasn't their desire to dominate a bunch of prostitutes or interns. Sorry Marion, the b*tch didn't set you up, you did it yourself.

With the election of the campaigning machine Barack Obama, we elected a president that's clearly different and most importantly, more up to date than his predecessor and competition. With this young gun in office, lets change the segregation of political prowess and the common man and keep the facts front and present.

Obama has said he wants to put all his speeches on Youtube. That's a step. Access to major rulings and even the decision making process between senators and justices would be a godsend into seeing what really goes on and seeing why decisions are made. This would be more than welcome, seeing that we're being ravaged by a governer making cuts and decisions in the blind.

If politicians had blogs online we could easily tell what was on their minds and what was going to influence where they're taking us politically. Instead we get wordy platforms while they're running and silence after they're elected.

Newsflash. We're not On The Waterfront, we're not deaf, dumb, and we sure as hell won't stay muted.

We need to take a stand. Make politicians stay in touch with those whom they directly represent. Hear what they have to say and rule accordingly. Make them write. Record where they meet and decide and broadcast it. Force them to stay in touch with the people that have granted them the voice of a nation.

We, the people, need to know what's going on.

Right now were clueless. Lets change this. Lets get to know our politicians, actually see what they're doing. Lets make a difference.

Derek, I know you're out there. I know you can hear me. Make your e-voice heard. Blog about it. Write your senators. Start meetings, discussions,petitions. Don't let Obama be the voice of change, voice it yourself.

And let this timeless credo ring true from the hearts and lips of those who believe: Yes We Can.

Make believe in yourself.

Its been interesting growing up in the land of make believe.

Long ago, in a simpler time, I was an innocent and relatively impressionable 5th grader. I remember hearing stories about my classmates and their foray into the internet and watching my skin pigmentation turn a gentle shade of green with envy.

Soon enough those stories became my own as my parents finally mustered the funding to purchase a family computer and make my e-dreams come true. As I logged onto AOL for the first time, I knew I was in for a ride. As the years passed, I watched the internet develop ten-fold. New communities sprouted. New applications became rampant across our counter-culture. The internet started to take more and more time out of our days.

As things became more readily accessible, I watched myself get into trouble for varying reasons that I won't specify and had to deal with an overly enticing Web of sin and delight, fighting within myself to find the right balance between the two.

Looking back on those online entities that have spored and created unexplainably vast, unmovable organisms, nothing strikes a sweeter cord than that of the MMORPG, the massively muliplayer online role playing game.

From Neverwinter Nights to World of Warcraft, these games have stormed the online community and made communities of their own. They're like a plague, or antidote, for the socially awkward or unaccepted.

For the sake of now, and time, we'll look at where such an entity is now and how real life nd virtual economies have scissored and become one-ish.

Take World of Warcraft and Second Life for example.

The appropriately named Second Life offers a second life for those not happy with their own, or just looking for something to do in their free time. Within their regions or Sims, users can create male and female avatars and decorate them to their hearts content. It's a reality based faux-reality as users can explore the regions, socialize with other users, trade and create goods, and even buy and sell land, which is an extremely hot commodity. Adding another dose of reality is the Linden Dollar in Second Life, which actually fluctuates with the dollar. This money can sadly be purchased with real human dollars, or earned through a variety of means.

Second Life is an open virtual economy that allows users to rise and fall and live life as they would or would like to in reality. It can either be a valuable tool used for success in ones life or a danger to ones self esteem and decision making skills. The fact that actual money is spent on making this online universe real to the user is dangers in itself as it can literally drain everything from an addict.

World of War Craft is a closed economy that costs money to enter, but strays users from spending money in it to advance. Through quests and missions, users can make their created fable/storybook like character stronger and can update and purchase new weapons and clothing. Once you pay to get in and stay in, what you do and make within the digitalized boarders is all on your fingertips, not in your wallet.

When people start putting money into their virtual lives on Second Life, they're taking their earnings in reality and creating this powerful character that will never amount to anything other and a cartoonized character of what they'd like to be.

It's dangerous meshing reality with fake, fablized communities as so many people get stuck and give more time to the fake them, instead of spending time, effort, and capital on making their own lives better. Why buffer what you arn't when you can make yourself into what you want to be?

WOW is no angel, but at least it encourages fake earning and development, not meshed digital reality.

Here's all I can say. If you arn't who you'd like to be, don't spend your earnings creating a fake you online and avatar related relationships to quell your social castration. Go out in reality and start the change. You voted for change. You know you did. Now it's time for you to take the podium and not only preach to the choir, but start your on credo to self fulfillment and find that autonomy.

I'm waiting.

Razor blades and Three Muskateers

Halloween is Christmas morning for the pedophile.

As hoards of unrecognizable and often unsupervised children approach strangers doors, eyes widen as opportunity arises. The gleam from the thick pair of bifocals and meaty mustache that sits upon a smirking upper lip compliment the devilish desires that on this very night rise from the grave and attack the weary.

This Halloween, we take back the night.

Across the nation, different cities are issuing court rulings demanding registered sex offenders to hang "No Candy" signs on their front lawns. As the night often disguises the sex offender status, this is an extremely important decision.

"Maryland is one of a growing number of states that are expanding restrictions on sex offenders for Halloween, including required signage and curfews." (Dizikes,C. (2008, October 31)No Haloween for Marylands sex offenders. LA Times. Retrieved October 31st, 2008 from http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la-na-pumpkin31-2008oct31,0,2115760.story)

Other states jumping on board include Missouri and Indiana. In regards to Missouri, they're dealing with this issue for the long term future, not necessarily this Halloseason.

"Federal judge Carol E. Jackson ruled Monday that a Missouri state law restricting the activities and mobility of sex offenders on Halloween was to be blocked pending linguistic restructuring." (Mumford-Zisk, B. (2008, October 29)No candy for you. The Spectrum)

As these two publications have portrayed similar material, they have definitely done so in different manners.

With The Spectrum, UB's very own newspaper, the article is found on page 2 on the designated editorial section. Since it's on the opinion page, it also issues the papers sentiments as well. Alongside the article is an opinion piece on race and voting, a list of the members of the newspaper, and an article dealing with airline ticket pricing.

With the online LA Times article we notice a significant difference. For one, if you didn't see the article on the front page, you'd have to search the site to find it. The article is a strict reporting piece, so it does it's best to serve no bias. The major factor that differentiates this online piece from print are the advertisements.

Right in the middle of the article are links to different Google sites dealing with sex offenders. On the sides we find links to the other sections of the paper, election sites, entertainment links, and even a picture of a dog, toting the site's member photography.

Online journalism is a giant advertisement with an article fit snuggly within the linking boarders. Print journalism remains focused on the topic and that alone.

Further delving into online details, we can look at this breakdown.

"Interactive options on Web sites can be subdivided into three types or forms: navigational interactivity (through 'Next Page' and 'Back to Top' buttons or scrolling menubars), functional interactivity (through direct mailto: -links, Bulletin Board Systems (BBS) and moderated discussion lists for example), or adaptive interactivity (offering chatrooms and personal customization through 'smart webdesign'; see Guay, 1995)." (http://www.firstmonday.org/ISSUES/issue6_10/deuze/index.html)

Print journalism remains strong because of the mom and pop and ocal citizens who want to read about their localized, sub-divided culture and area without any big-town bias or spin.

"And despite the world-wide reach of online media, that very world-wide reach dilutes the value of online to those constituents." (http://seekingalpha.com/article/30749-why-print-journalism-will-never-really-die)

Though both fields of journalism, those of online and print are worlds apart. Where does your allegiance lie?

Heres lookin at you Lackaff.

Do you have what it takes?

Amidst the faux-socialite run blogs currently rousing the internet and blogisphere, therein lies locally run institutions designed to inform and educated. One such local blog with political prowess is that of KillerBuffalo, located at www.killerbuffalo.com

This Killer blog was designed and is run by a multi-member staff. The blog itself was co-founded by David Lamb, who acts as the managing editor, works for Grind Mode Magazine and still remains refined under the watchful eye of high school, and Nicole Adams, Civil Rights Editor and editor for Third Street magazine in Canada.

Also in charge of the site are William Hakim and William Leich, who work as Election Politics Editor and staff writer, respectively. Hakim is the co-author of the Three Trillion Dollar War and regularly contributes to varying online and in print sources. Leich is well versed and has long been a part of the local political movement.

The blog originated on July, 14th 2008 and has been up to date on political issues and polls ever since.

The blog itself doesn't seem to have a Technorati ranking, but the blog Famous Blogs, which named Killer Buffalo as it's blog of the day on Friday August 29th, has a rank of 8,342 and an Authority of 383.

The blog maintains a serious tone and concerned critique throughout. From pointing out flaws in McCain's platform, mentioning what Palin has done right and wrong, the public's perception of the Republican candidates and a seemingly milktose view of Obama, the sitetries to be completely unbiased, but often times a wavering slant shifts to the left. Look for yourself at a featured blog on the site.

"I am not discrediting McCain for the negativity of his marketing alone. I am discrediting him for his organization’s incompetence in adhering to the recipe for successful campaigning. What has worked in the past would work at the present and into the future, if he let it. Obama’s campaign has proved this." (http://culturedecoded.wordpress.com)

As celebrities and media spin affect peoples views on politicians and politics in general, blogs are doing the same. Some sites are celebrity orientated and bring in viewers by the hoard and often time issue endorsements or negative messages towards certain McCain Palins, like that of Perez Hilton. Relatively unpolitical people are being molded by wizards of e-oz.

"In the US, for instance, political blogs have almost become mainstream, with some sporting weekly reach and unique visitors numbers which exceed all but a handful of major newspapers. The Huffington Post, Captain's Quarters...the list goes on and on, and the influence grows." (McDonald, Stewart. http://stuart.blogware.com/blog/_archives/2006/4/27/1915373.html)

And guess what? William Hakim just so happens to work and contribute to the Huffington Post.

Go fig.

Minds are being shaped. Killer Buffalo is an extremely successful local blog. As viewers increase, so does the sites affect. As New York is an extremely Democratic state, sites of the sort will only spread the disease, or cure, depending on which side your affiliations lie, and turn your intern and eyes blue.

Buffalo isn't exactly a marquee city, but it isn't small by any means. As the second biggest city in the NY, our say is wildly important to the popular vote in New York.

With the knowledge and power on your finger tips, don't let it be influenced by bloggers who show you what they want to, to shape your opinions. McCain, Obama, Palin, Biden. The choice is yours, not Killer Buffalo's.

Read, gain knowledge, but don't just do it here. Do it on other sites. On tv stations. In newspapers. Over the radio. Guerrilla research. Who will win? Who will you vote for?


Do you think you can make it past the temple guards (bloggers), through the marsh, to voting booth where you have to assemble the silver monkey in order to vote and get out of the temple in under 3 minutes? Time is waining. And a presidency and free trip to space camp is depending on it.

Go!

Play me louder, faster, harder...

If the internet was a whore, we'd be her pimp.

Literally every day, new applications arise online and we use them until they bleed. We take them to their limits, render them useless and dispose of them in search of something younger, fresher and better.

Being the chauvinist that I am, I'm always looking to take advantage of what the internet has to offer. For the last two years, my mistress of choice has been Playlist.com

The site serves as a search engine for all the songs on the internet. Once you search for the song you want, you can add it to your own individualized playlist. With this paylist you can add up to 80 songs of your choosing and play them whenever you please.

It's your very own mixtape. If only it came with your very own John Cusack to stand outside your window with his big boom box and blast it for you.

Once you've composed your playlist, you can add it to your Myspace, Facebook, blog, ect. You can even edit its appearance and format. It gives you the ability to play your favorite music on your page, no questions asked.

The site is extremely simple to use and is laid out in an extremely basic fashion. On its homepage you can click tabs taking you to the song search engine, user playlist search, blogs, and news. It's self-explanatory and simple to navigate.

You can even create your own profile, adding pictures and a biography, showing fellow playlisters the man (or woman) behind the music. You can befriend and message users and share your music, exposing yourself and others to virgin audio territory or just share your thoughts via comment.

Www.Playlist.com is extremely useful, especially for those who want to listen to their music while online. Even the casual listener looking for a fun time will find refuge.

I'm sure she'll get sick of me or vice versa, but until that happens, I'll use her until I'm sweaty, breathless and ready for a nap. God bless free music and its exposure.