Is Racism real?

Click here and read this article recently printed in my school’s newspaper.

Nixon makes some interesting arguments about the idea of race and especially about about the reasons why it’s a problem in the states. A friend sent me a facebook link months ago about this, and as I recall I refused to join the group. The information provided is somehow just too one-sided for me - no matter how wrong what happened to the Jena 6 is, stifling the other side of the story to focus on the racial injustice is also wrong.

From what I’ve read, the fact remains that these kids DID beat another kid in retaliation for something. If that’s the case, then they deserve to be in jail. Yes - they deserve a fair trial, and yes - the people who hung nooses to make a point also deserve to be in jail, but that doesn’t mitigate what they did or answer the larger question of why this happened in the first place. Students like the ones who protested in Red Square at Georgetown are making a valid point, but they’re also going out of their way to use rhetoric that distorts what happened. In many ways, they’re falling prey to the same racism they accuse others of leveling against African Americans.

They aren’t the only ones either. Nixon is right - it’s getting harder to be WASP in the US; it seems these days that everyone has to overcompensate lest we be “un-PC” about race. What kind of society is that really promoting? That’s not getting rid of the problem - it’s adding another problem on top of it to make it appear like the problem has disappeared. Humans tend to mistrust and fear that which we see as different than ourselves. If those Georgetown students truly want to see the death of “racism” in our country, then rather than emphasizing their differences it seems they ought to follow the very advice The Hoya was so recently accused of forgetting. They should help promote nonviolent and peaceful dialogue between diverse groups of people in our society. Maybe then people will begin to see just how much we all have in common. It seems, as always, that America has a long way yet to go.

How does one value a University Education?

So a user called into work a few days ago demanding to know why he couldn’t access the course information on Blackboard for a course he took last semester.

Blackboard, for the uninitiated, is our campus’ online posting system - like Moodle or others. It’s a place for professors to put files and documents, assignments, syllabi, etc… as well as a medium for communication between the professor and students.

This user - who was clearly a “continuing ed” student (that is to say, he was 40 or more years old) - was surprised and outraged when I told him that course information was only accessible during the semester that he was taking the course. He felt that when he paid tuition for the course, he had paid for perpetual access to the materials used to teach the course.

It makes a certain amount of sense, doesn’t it? If one paid for the course, and certain materials are made available to you as part of that, don’t you have a right to those materials? It begs the question: when you pay tuition, what are you buying?

I shuffled him off to talk to the registrar about that one, but I doubt they gave him what he wanted. I don’t blame them - his claim doesn’t make sense to me for several reasons. Before I post those, though, I’d be interested to hear other people’s answers to the question above. What ARE we paying for?

On an unrelated side-note, I’m facing a crisis. I’m suffering from Giant Robot withdrawal, and I can’t find a single toy I want that’d cost under like $250 to get it here. So - I need suggestions. I don’t know who reads this who keeps up with giant robots, I’ll take any suggestions you have into consideration. The price ceiling, with shipping, is $200.

I think Gunbuster spoiled me…

I’ll bet he does…

This link certainly is interesting.

Comments later… Job Search = Death for the moment.

*Update*

This article should be titled: “Well-meaning if inappropriate joke met with typical right-wing conservative ‘creativity’!” Don’t get me wrong - I love the Christian Right as much as the next guy; I mean, how else would I get my daily dose of laughter? But this is ridiculous. You just know some southern lawyer felt god had “asked him to step up and defend his name” or some such bullshit. That or someone equally “clever” (not necessarily right-wing, conservative, OR Christian) thought it’d be funny to add a tongue-in-cheek reply. Either way - the response misses the point of the message. Probably cost the system money in filing costs and getting the whole mess dismissed. Good job, whoever. Well done.

Oh, so THAT’S what my life is like…

It was determined several years ago that if my life were a movie, its title would be “Superhero: The Exposition Phase” . You know - that awkward period in any comic or Superhero story where we’re getting to know the hero before the accident that gives him/her his/her amazing abilities?

Seeing this, though (albeit for the second time…) makes me wonder if I don’t somehow have it all wrong? Maybe it should be “SuperVillain: The Quiet Life Before a Tragic Accident Phase”?

Reason #183 why I love Japan…

So this entry will officially be of a “Quasi-NSFW” nature. Please be forewarned.

The first video I’d like to offer for your consumption is this:

Now I know you’re thinking, “what ARE you watching these days?” In my defense, Orson sent me this link last night, which led to much hilarity amongst my room-mates. Especially once you understand the Japanese, the video becomes MUCH more interesting.

I haven’t bothered to understand the guy’s part of the conversation, and I think we can all safely assume that in this situation it’s more or less moot. The girl’s part, however, is hilarious. She starts off with a cryptic “Ki ga tsukimashita?” - “Have you noticed/realized/become aware (of it)?” (Okay, “Are you awake?” is also possible, but where’s the fun in that. Besides, it’s possible she did something horrible to him while he was asleep…). I’m not sure what we’re supposed to have noticed, but she might be referring to our protagonist’s rather bizarre physical characteristics, as will be discussed in detail in a moment. I’m sure he hadn’t, too, because who the hell notices things like this? He must also have decided to use this opportunity to take his frustration out on her by poking her, because she seems to be hiccuping through the next few lines. This is the last time he does this - apparently he DOES realize in a moment.

Her next inspired utterance is “Kimi no suki ni shite iin dayo” - “Feel free to do as you like.” If that’s not sketchy, I don’t know what is. Given the game though, I’m going to assume that she’s referring to the advertised total freedom to use (or misuse?) the environment around you.

Of course, we all know it’s an EROTIC FPS, so obviously it’s built to let you do as you wish… In multiple ways. Next, the ever-hopeful soon-to-be victim cleverly offers “Toriaezu, atashi to hanashitoka shiyo?” - “At any rate, how about we just talk a bit?” Bad idea, babe. The protagonist evidently has discovered his rather amazing physical talents, because he signals his thoughts on this idea by showering her with… An “unidentified” *cough* gooey, white substance *cough*. Aaand… Her only response is a mild, “Uuuuun sonnna….”, which is basically like combination scolding and “I don’t know about that…” Not very convincing, animated-girl - try saying “no”. She does, at least, say, “‘Pon-pon’ tte, Okorasetari…” - “I’ll get mad or something…” Real convincing, babe. Then, “Ne, ‘Paaaa!’ tte! Ureshiku naru koto ippai shite!” - “Feel free to do whatever that makes you happy!” Do I even need to comment on that? Her temperance for this is, “Demo, amari henna koto shichau iya dayo” - “But don’t do anything too weird, okay!” Uh-huh. By this point, you’ve lost the right to complain about anything he does. Especially if you’re putting up with his goo-firing firearm and happy trigger finger thus far.

He takes this suggestion to heart, obviously, because the next thing he does is take a look around the room. And wait - oh, oh no - he settles on the baseball bat. Uh-oh.

He takes a few practice swings and approaches the victim (See? Victim! Get your mind out of the gutter!). And, ever the paragon of intelligent comments, our gal lets out, “Heeee?!? Sono mono de nani surun desu ka?” - “Whaaaat?!? What’re you doing with that?/What’re you going to do with that?”

NOT USE IT! Because he definitely takes her down with the “sticky white goo” gun. And she slaps him a bit, then RUNS AWAY INTO THE WALL. Which, I might add, he takes as his cue to “fire” a few more times. Pleasant chap, this protagonist.

Oh, the Japanese… There are a few more clips from this game:

This one needs no explanation… Remember people, physical violence is never a solution… Except when it’s not real and is funny as hell.

And this one:

This girl speaks like a cat, but essentially says similar things. It’s largely boring until the protagonist figures out how to use the “get naked” (”Get into undergarments?”) command, which apparently involves the girl’s own super-power, which seems to be the ability to lose outer clothing by yelling “Cast off!” Kamen Rider references aside, man do I wish I could use THAT command on people at parties… Reminds me of a certain Patrick Stewart moment. Ever-hopefully, and not getting the message, the girl brilliantly suggests that what he wants to do is maybe a little too embarrassing for her. This is when our hero discovers the “bitch-slap” command. Yes, apparently there is a bitch-slap command. Tell me you didn’t see that coming.

While the game may be a little inappropriate on some levels, I haven’t seen much over-all erotic content. I might find a way to get it just for the ability to do horrible things to the virtual people inside. I mean come on - it’s like the Sims. Nobody really wants their Sim to live a happy life - who DIDN’T torture a whole bunch of them in creative ways first?

Instructions for your next free evening…

Instructions

1) Drink copious amounts of alcohol or do whatever your preferred method of becoming impaired is
2) Make some food
3) Turn speakers up to the highest they’ll go
4) Go to this website
5) Trip out like there’s no tomorrow

Thank you.

WTF, Internet? WTF.

I’m all for Transformers branding…

… But what IS this? Granted, it’s supposed to be a phone… But what’s up with the twisty part at the bottom? Where are the keys?

What the hell?