Election Aftermath

Lisa Bishop and I had the pleasure of assisting Juliet at WYSO with some research on some of the major campaigns.  We surfed the web for credible resources on each of the topics.  Then Juliet put together a summary on WYSO's political page that showed where people could go to learn more about the results.

As I was sitting there, I couldn't help but consider how this process must have functioned years ago.  People must have used faxes as well as telephones just to exchange information. 

The crew at WYSO had pulled all-nighters just to stay current with the news, but they were grateful to have the Internet as a tool.  It helped them acquire information instantly.

Last week, I was having dinner with some friends.  We engaged in a conversation about just how much communication has evolved or devolved over the years.  One of my friends said that during the Lincoln/Douglas debates, people devoted 21 hours to hearing the 7 debates.  That's how dedicated they were to politics.

Then I thought about today. 

People complained about dedicating 6 hours to 3 debates.  There's one simple reason for this change:  technology.  We now count on the Internet to tell us how we should feel because it's easy and quick. 

As future elections occur, I wonder how our new way of thinking will impact our decision-making process. 

What the Frack?

When Lisa mentioned that some of the pollutants from fracking ended up in Warren, Ohio, I felt compelled to do some research.  I am from Akron, which is about an hour east of Warren.  The oddity for me is that I never once heard anything about fracking until I moved to southwest Ohio.  Either northeast Ohioans are oblivious or they just don't understand the implications of this process.

Warren did not have any laws or regulations against fracking.  They simply had the freedom to dispose of waste in their sewer systems.  However, once the EPA became involved, they did have to shut down operations.  Another interesting point that I discovered was a local article that downplayed the dangers of fracking. It had indicated that fracking does not contaminate well water.  This fact explains why northeast Ohio folks do not get up in arms about this topic.

Last week, there was an earthquake in Kentucky.  Many of my Cincinnati friends felt the tremors.  This got me thinking about fracking because many scientists have linked fracking to earthquakes.  I think it's time for everyone to get on board with this.  Fracking doesn't just pollute our water; it causes irreversible destruction.

True Power for Anonymous

After doing some research on Anonymous' attack on Scientology (which was well deserved), I came across an article where Scientology head, David Miscavige, declared the group losers.

Miscavige said, "Having run into the Church of Scientology, they [Anonymous] are no longer laughing out loud or otherwise. Nor are they any longer anonymous."

Now that's hilarious.

Apparently, Miscavige doesn't realize the power of exposure.  While much of the group is truly anonymous, those who have come forward have brought an even higher level of awareness to the group.    

And that's a win for any protest organization.

The Numbers Debate

According to The Washington Post, Romney and Obama mentioned "middle-class" a total of 29 times. 

I wish I had implemented a drinking game!

If I would have added Medicare to my game, I would have drunk 59 more shots.

But what we really need in this country is a strong leader.  Ironically, the two only mentioned "leadership" twice. 

So what does that say about these candidates?  That perhaps we should focus on Gary Johnson instead.  Drunk or sober.

Lady Gaga: Satire or One Hell of a Marketing Scheme?

At the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards, Lady Gaga sported an entire outfit made from real meat (see below). This fashion choice created quite a stir among the public, but Gaga claimed to have had a message behind it. She stated that she was tired of the media treating celebrities like pieces of meat.

So one could argue that this stunt marks Gaga's satirical attempt at influencing a change in how the public views famous people. 

On the other hand, however, if she was really against Hollywood, she might have made a bolder statement by avoiding the award's show altogether.  A real protest against the standard that Hollywood set in place.

Nonetheless, this dress is now as famous as J. Lo's green Versace from the 2000 Grammy's.  And that dress's only claim to fame was a severe plunge that left little for the imagination.

Lady Gaga at the 2010 MTV VMA's.

Saturday Night Art Protests

Art comes in many forms today, both electronic and in print format.  Perhaps one of the most recognizable methods is television or the silver screen.

Each Saturday, I tune in to Saturday Night Live (SNL).  Although it has lost its comedic value over the years, I feel like it's my duty to appreciate the pop culture significance that it provides.

One of the major themes that SNL dives into is politics.  For the past season or so, they have done all in their power to exploit Romney's ignorance with the public.  They portray him as wishy-washy and out-of-touch.  Meanwhile, Obama shines with a smile.

As I think about artists like Banksy who use the power of art to get their point across, I can't help but include SNL in this category.  As long as I have been watching, I have witnessed the writers' partial behavior towards Democrats (much like a lot of Hollywood).

Whether you're into politics or not, anyone can see where SNL's loyalty lies.  Thanks to the power of art as protest.

Social Media Burn

We live in an era of instant gratification where people can access whatever information they seek within a few clicks.  They can get a meal within minutes at a fast food joint, and they can even lose up to 30 pounds in a month if they're willing to pop pills.

With so many possibilities, what does that mean for us?  The answer is impatience.

I think about how many times a teenager will shake his/her head at me because I remember looking up books in a card catalog.  Hell, I went to a library!  But more importantly, I recall the days before the Internet.  Days where I had to rely on gaining knowledge from a book or from an educated person.

When I tie this rational to social movements, I become a bit apprehensive.  Occupy has succeeded in generating dialogue that hasn't existed since the 1920's.  Yet, so many people consider them a failure because they have not changed government the way that the Tea Party has.  Perhaps we should consider the idea that good things come to those who wait.  Those who work hard for their cause and realize that things do not happen over night.  Blood, sweat, and tears are often involved.

In the state of our world today, we should measure success on how long something lasts, not how quickly the outcome arises.