oh em gee.

Salutations!

I decided to take the summer off..
That's a nice way of putting the fact that I was too busy (getting even tanner) to update my blog, once used strictly for my broadcast class, now for my opinion journalism class, and also, for pure enjoyment.

I have decided every week I will post a new "article" in my fake column that I hope to some day have, titled, "My Personal Beef". This will be a weekly rant bursting with witty, snide, and insensitive comments. The first two postings were assignments from my opinion class. Enjoy.

9/19
My Personal Beef With Rolling Stone

To Whom it May Concern:
For over thirty years, Rolling Stone has provided its readers with a fresh, honest and at times ruthless view on American pop culture, while providing history and purpose about its products who grace the cover every issue. However, when did this publication undergo such musical castration? When did it become relevant to put Snooki on the cover, turning my beloved magazine a ghastly shade of orange? And with condensing the size of it in Jann Wenner’s effort to “go green” did you also lose sight of the fact that there is hip hop beyond Lil Wayne, who, may I remind you, is a convicted felon, and refers to himself as a rock star, because he bought a guitar and wears it for show. Excuse me, Dwayne Carter, but you can’t buy rock and roll, you have to be deserving of it. The first Rolling Stone issue I ever picked up and read cover to cover was in 1996, I was in fifth grade. The debut album of Courtney Love’s band, Hole had been released and beaten its way to the front of the rock and roll band wagon for grunge complete with blood, sweat and tears. Not only was I infatuated with the writing style and use of detail that the journalist provided, but the use of imagery created a feeling of closeness for me. From every ripped lace fringe of Love’s baby doll nighty, to the chain smoking and foul language that made the interview seem that much more real. It wasn’t falling at the feet of the celebrities, worshiping them and patting them on the back for the “great job” they’ve done in American media. Courtney Love was no role model, no pillar of the community, and she had no problem expressing that. As an avid reader, I have continuously noticed the “fear” that is apparent in the publication now. Journalists like Hunter S. Thompson, and Lester Bangs created an aura of journalistic mercilessness, with only passion to drive them. They were unafraid of the press, the outcome, or which drunken rock star they would offend because they wrote for themselves and provided fans a sense honesty about the inspirations we love and admire. I miss that. I miss feeling an adrenaline rush while reading an article, I miss hearing what someone like Elliot Smith had to say and feeling personally connected to his words; not that Kim Karsashian in fact does NOT have ass implants. How is that in any way significant or related to music news? I guess, most importantly, I miss the bravery this magazine used to possess. They say once you spay a dog he is never quite the same, loses his luster and alpha-ness. There is still hope for you, Rolling Stone, you just need your mojo back.


10/3
My Personal Beef with the U.S of Laziness

In That Used To Be Us, Tom Friedman writes, “America is in denial, unwilling to accept that it’s been living beyond its means and getting, well, a little lazy”. In America, during a time of economic recession compared to the financial troubles our country endured over 70 years ago, do we feel it is absolutely necessary to spend billions of dollars annually. Whether the spending be on political campaigning, construction, or property tax, Friedman is right, America is living beyond its means. It is as though all we do is complain and create the “woe is me” argument about our monetary troubles, yet who is fighting back? Who is getting up and screaming “America is still the land of opportunity!”

The term “lazy American” is something that is no longer considered taboo, or used sparingly. We live in a generation where importance is placed solely on income and financial standing; as if we are still living in a renaissance era where class separation divides the peasants from royalty. I am 25 years old, have lived on my own for eight years and been 100 percent self sufficient. I have never worked less than 40 hours a week and I try to teach myself the value of our American dollar. However, due to somewhat of a financial cul-de-sac and issues with the New Haven housing department, I have recently moved home, and back in with my mother. I work in a restaurant, in a primarily white, and white collar area of Newtown, where housewives in Ralph Lauren sip cucumber martinis in an effort to escape their seemingly comatose lifestyle. I also, work with a group of people, roughly in my age demographic who simply have their job because “my parents want me to do something”. Tell me, how is that supposed to motivate my generation to provide decent work ethic? Supposedly these are the future leaders of my beautiful country. Lip gloss and cosmopolitans hold more of an importance to these people than the fact that America has had a steady decline of registered voters in my age demographic. It’s not only depressing, but terrifying. I suppose you could place the blame on my generations’ parents. But since when did being a “product of your environment” provide a scapegoat and an excuse to sheer laziness? Just because you come from a wealthy family; where your nanny helped you with your math homework, and your weekly maid cleaned your room and made up your bed, does not justify continuous coddling nationwide. Our expectations for greatness have become less and less.
Tom Friedman refers to himself as a “frustrated optimist” in his efforts to explain how it all went horribly wrong. He takes a more sensible, calmer approach to how our value system and priorities are in shambles. How did America become so in debt, how did we create an enemy within ourselves? Now we have to pay Egypt $2 billion a year just to remain on our side, while everywhere else would rather toss their hands in the air and say “no way man”. Basically, how did we lose sight of the American dream and how did the idea of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, become money, sex, and the pursuit of maserati’s. When did America stop caring about what is really important here? The state and well being of our nation?

There is optimism in here, there is faith. Friedman still is confident in the well being and economic growth of this country, it just needs to re evaluate what is truly important, and motivate itself to get out of this economic slump. Friedman wrote an article discussing the shift in value systems in our country versus China right after 9/11. He had come home and noticed that the steps in front of a political building in D.C had been “under construction” for nearly three months, compromising the walkway and making it virtually impossible to enter the building without a struggle. China undergoes construction on a daily basis, and a similar problem like the one in D.C wouldn’t take longer than eight days to fix. You mean to tell me that because of the lack of values and teamwork within our society, that people would rather “milk the clock” than do a good job in an effort to remain unified? It’s every man for himself, survival of the fittest. Maybe if our country could work together, establish better leadership and swallow our pride, things would be accomplished in not only a timely fashion, but in a united one. If this could happen, our society would become less bitter; less negative and we would be motivated in getting our feet back on the ground.

Before football games, high schools have pep rally’s in an effort to motivate the team. People chant, come together for the same support, and naturally rev the engines of one another. Maybe that’s what Friedman is talking about; have a nationwide pep rally to motivate our once hungry and fearless group of people. Hard is not impossible, we just need a swift kick in the right direction, and we can overcome our complacence.