The bandwagon is comfortable...

So, like I said, I'm gonna start trying to get more back into this. Ironically enough, I'm sitting in my MMC 2100 class learning how to blog. Really? REALLY? Alright. Well, nonetheless, I've been mulling over starting an improv blog for awhile now and it's something I've been flip-flopping over. I'm a second semester member of Theatre Strike Force -- what the fuck do I know?

However, I find that I still want an outlet for an opinion that rarely gets heard before three in the morning and a few drinks. Whether or not said opinion is substantiated is up for debate. So...COMING SOON, TO AN INTERNET NEAR YOU:

"Dateline: BACKLINE, Fla. -- "

Give me shit about the journo title, and I'll punch you. I'M NOT A TELECOM MAJOR.


With love & laughs!
Yet Another One

Edit: Cheap plug for my internship! I'm a food critic. Read, eat, be merry. I'm turning to a food challenge angle, so stay tuned with yours truly, "womanversusfood."
http://grubcritic.com/gainesville

Hey guys. So I had effectively gone on hiatus what with finals, winter break, a new internship, the reason for this blog existing in the first place becoming obsolete, and getting started fresh with a new semester. However, just because I'm no longer in Intro to Journalism does not mean I will no longer be updating this little beauty. In all honesty, I'd hate to see the URL go to waste -- I'm rather surprised no one had claimed it before. Anyway, back to the point. I'll update every so often.

Stay tuned, Gainesville.


With heartz,
Sara

Gingervitus

SCHOOL HOLDS TOLERANCE SEMINAR AS 3 BOYS ARE ARRESTED IN 'GINGER' ATTACKS
(LA Times)

It's as trite as trite can be -- back in the good ol' days, kids used to use "Kick Me!" signs. Now we've upgraded to Facebook and holidays such as "Kick A Ginger Day" can cause nationwide peril to Weasleys everywhere. The Calabasas Middle School boys, ages 12 and 13, were influenced by the show South Park in attacking gingers in their normally-peaceful campus.

The "South Park" episode, first shown in 2005, was itself supposed to be a lesson in tolerance but misfired, with harassment of red-haired students taking place at schools across the U.S. and Canada over the last few years.

However, for something that has been occuring in schools for decades, it seems a little harsh to label these young lads on battery charges or anything of that sort. I mean, nothing more than a couple bruises and scraped knees occured and things like that are bound to happen. Of course, that's not to say such behavior is encouraged, especially on the grounds of their hair color, but if the crime is relatively harmless, the punishment should fit the offense.

Likewise, to blame the producers of South Park for the misbehavior of middle school children is a cop out because they cannot control their own kids.

The annual kick-a-ginger event has brought angry criticism from people who feel the show's producers should have known better. A judge in Calgary, Canada, where 13 high school students swarmed a red-haired boy in a locker room, called the show "a vulgar, socially irreverent program that contributes nothing to society."

It's a television program intended for an adult audience -- monitor what your childen watch and you won't have a problem. It is a high-brow show (yes, it is, don't give me that look) and if your children are not at the level at which they can understand satire, they shouldn't be watching Comedy Central. You cannot demand that adult programming be eradicated for the "sake of the children" simply so you don't have to do your job as a parent because the telly can babysit them for you.

Link to story at latimes.com:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-ginger-attacks1-2009dec01,0,7737967.story?track=rss


This post is dedicated to my ex-husband and faithful ginger, Max Solomon. Keep on keepin' on, Rojo.

An offer they should've refused

ITALIAN GROUP: 'JERSEY' SHORE WAS OFFENSIVE
(TMZ)

The newest reality trash from MTV, Jersey Shore, is more or less The Hills, but with fake tans and linguini. However, these hyperbolized stereotypes are upsetting Italian-Americans across the country. According to the article, "After last night's debut episode of the reality show, UNICO National -- the 'Largest Italian American Service Organization in the USA' -- claims they 'can't keep up with the volume of calls' from 'outraged' Italian Americans." Domino's Pizza even went so far as to retract their ad campaign with the television show, claiming it "wasn't right for Domino's Pizza."

What did you expect from MTV, really? I'm sure if there were Plastic Bimbo support groups, they'd have been up in arms back in the days of Laguna Beach. I think the key here is to accept the low standards of entertainment in today's day and age and just find something else to do with your time. Stereotypes will be perpetuated with or without this dreck of programming, so change the channel to House, M.D, watch Hugh Laurie be snarky, and save yourself some unnecessary stress. 

Link to story at tmz.com:
http://www.tmz.com/2009/12/04/italian-group-jersey-shore-was-offensive/

Stacy and Clinton would have something to say about this...

GAY BASHING WOMAN HUMILIATED FOR WEARING HIDEOUS SKIRT
(Boing Boing)

Chris Pesto, a student at Syracuse University, could take this random fundamentalist's hateful messages no more. Instead of taking the conventional route of verbally tearing her a new one, he took the witty high road -- making a rival poster making fun of her God-awful fashion choice. "I decided that because this woman thought it was okay to make me feel uncomfortable in my home, I would retaliate and make her feel just as uncomfortable, if not more, " Pesto said. In all honesty, I'm all for free speech; my international relations teacher in high school didn't call me Crazy Liberal Girl for nothing. However, when Christian fundamentalists taint the good name of the religion overall by spouting hateful rhetoric (yeah, I'm looking at you, Dove Outreach Center), it makes me question where Christ comes into this at all. "Christ will set you free?" I'm Jewish, but even I know Jesus Christ would not approve of such actions on behalf of his name. We are all people and should be treated as such -- humans with free will not to be harassed to "see the light." The fact that actions such as those Pesto had to go to just to feel comfortable in their own hometown is sad and I'm sure your Good Lord would want all of his followers to be treated as such (and even those who do not follow Christianity. Bear in mind: he didn't invent Christianity; apostles did).

But nonetheless, good show, Mr. Pesto. Good show.


Link to story at boingboing.net:
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/11/30/gay-bashing-woman-hu.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+boingboing%2FiBag+(Boing+Boing)&utm_content=Google+Reader

Bibles: if you get beat 'em, change 'em

BLESSED ARE THE CONSERVATIVE IN BIBLE TRANSLATION
(Associated Press)

"The Gospel of Luke records that, as he was dying on the cross, Jesus showed his boundless mercy by praying for his killers this way: 'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.'" Apparently to conservatives, this benevolent Jesus simply doesn't fly. They view this individual quote as an attempt by liberal translators to instill their views on the Bible (despite, as the article point out, it being in nearly every translated text). However, as any theological scholar will tell you, an attempt to reword Scripture by a group of amateurs is not to preserve, but to bend the Bible to their whimsy. That is not what religion is about -- tweaking what has been established because it's not to your liking. If Jesus is too benevolent for you, I don't think it's the Bible's fault. "This is not making scripture understandable to people today, it's reworking scripture to support a particular political or social agenda," said Timothy Paul Jones, a professor at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Translations of this magnitude are not something to be taken with a grain of salt -- it takes an educated scholar years upon years to master something as heady as a scripture translation. To seize it and attempt to rework it is an arrogant attempt at re-writing tradition simply because it doesn't suit you. 



Link to story at msnbc.com:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34270487/ns/us_news-faith/?GT1=43001

Oh, you've heard of The Mountain Goats? Great, now I have to find a new fave band...

EVOLUTION OF THE HIPSTER 2000-2009
(Paste)

I'm going in a different direction for a second and focusing on photojournalism, specifically magazine work. This immediately caught my attention since I've always been fascinated with the hipster trends and that whole notion of being "indie-fabulous." When did being so uncool become so awesome?  So I followed Paste's handy timeline and was taken on a journey of emo, emo part deux, proto-hipster, vintage wannabe and beyond. It really is interesting what American culture takes a hold of and runs with -- apparently looking homeless for a time was the "cool new thing." What was fascinating was the depictions of every year's trend; it really hit the nail on the head when it came to the incidental little details that truly shaped that particular look, from tattoo specifics to what technology they were toting.

The last decade may have been thought to lack a definitive look that we all could nostalgically look back on and dress up as on "2000's Night" at the the office, but this is a step in the right direction towards giving the 2000's some identity that isn't from the 'hood.


Link to spread at pastemagazine.com:
http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2009/12/the-evolution-of-the-hipster-2000-2009.html