There was a point in the year 2011 where people were wondering why all this attention was being given to the wedding of Price William and Kate Middleton. I'll admit, I was one of those people. It wasn't untill later on that I grew an appreciation for just such a story.
In the months before the wedding the Libyan Civil War was going on, the Syrian Civil War had just started, the earthquake and subsequent nuclear disaster started happening in Japan, the Egyptian Revolution was coming to a head, and there was a suicide bombing at a prominent airport in Moscow. Given all the news that had happened, the world needed a break. The world needed a news story that was purely good, and the Royal Wedding provided that good news story. Yes the wedding itself was extravagant and, to some, overly garish, but that's part of what made this story good. The Royal Wedding gave people a reason to sit and look at something beautiful for a couple of hours, as opposed to all the ugliness that was in the world.
An argument can be made that we need such a news story now. With the Crimean Conflict, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, and the recently revealed human rights abuses in North Korea, we need a break. We need a story that speaks to the good of humanity. We need a story of a person overcoming a great personal tragedy. We need a beautiful story we can look for a couple of hours, as opposed to all the ugliness in the world.
Recent days have seen reports of disturbing human rights abuses ongoing in many parts of the world. This includes the recent UN report about the long term and systemic abuses perpetrated by the North Korean government, abuses that were also reported on by CBS's 60 Minutes. There are also reports of human rights abuses going on in the Central African Republic and in Venezuela. However, a report printed by Rolling Stone magazine sheds light on some of the most horrific and unchecked human rights abuses of all.
This is Skrillex. Skrillex, real name Sonny John Moore, is an alleged electronic musician and singer-songwriter. Working out of his home in Los Angeles, Skrillex has collaborated with several well meaning artists and musicians to produce something that those that have knowledge of find disturbing. It is called "dubstep", an so-called artform that has already been labeled as a crime against humanity. Skrillex is accused of committing his crimes in 2004, 2006, 2009, twice in2010, twice again in2011, 2012, twice again in2013, and yet again in the early months of 2014. Rather than being called out for his crimes, this sick individual has been lauded my many media organizations, although arguments have been made that such media coverage is meant to curry favor with many influential persons inside the Hollywood music establishment.
While the severity of Sonny Moore's crimes are still in dispute, what is known is that "Skrillex" frequently makes appearances in front of crowds of people, many of whom are reported to be on substances of an illegal nature. These performances, or "concerts" as insiders are calling them, are choreographed and coordinated rituals meant to derive feeling of euphoria and joy among the gathered throngs. Such gatherings often leave the attendants with a higher sense of connection with the person, or persons, they came to see.
It is not the indoctrinated that need to be reached about the crimes committed by Skrillex, it is the others. The many many others who stand by, see reports of this man's crimes, and think nothing of what they are hearing that need to be motivated. People cannot stand aside and do nothing. People must act. And by act, I mean really acting, not just bitching about things on Twitter. A stand must be made. So I urge you, do not purchase any of Mr. Moore's albums and do not go see him in concert. Instead, go see Beck.
Overnight several news outlets started reporting on the details of the execution of Jang Song-thaek, formerly a powerful military figure and uncle to North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un. Both NBC News and Daily Mirror reported that Jang Song-thaek was "stripped naked, thrown into a cage, and eaten alive by a pack of ravenous dogs". The reports of the execution are of a shocking nature, and are therefore open to scrutiny.
First, the NBC News report, as well as reports elsewhere, site two sources for the story. One is a story in The Straits Times, a daily newspaper based out of Singapore. The other is a story in Wen Wei Po, a daily newspaper based out of Hong Kong. The Daily Mirror report does not specifically site either newspaper as it's source, but many of the details in their story match the ones reported by NBC News and The Straits Times. While the report given in The Straits Times is in English, that story sites the Wen Wei Po story as it's source, saying that Wen Wei Po is "its official mouthpiece". Given North Korea's history propaganda and false history, anything claiming to be an "official" source from North Korea is seen as suspect. There's also the admission in the NBC News report that "The report could not be independently confirmed by NBC News on Friday." Also, the US State Department has yet to release a statement on this report, although the State Department may be distracted by the currently deteriorating situation going on in South Sudan.
Untill such time as more information comes out about this story, either verifying or refuting the reports already out there, people should see the reports of the execution of Jang Song-thaek as suspect. Although, given the secretive nature of North Korea, no verifiable reports may be coming. That is, at least untill Dennis Rodman goes to visit Kim Jong-un again. An exhibition basketball game between a North Korean team trained by Rodman and a team of former NBA players is scheduled for January 10th.
The Real Pervasive Threat Lately, North Korean and their dictator Kim Jong Il have been making waves internationally by testing a number of high explosives. These tests have ruffled the feathers of many nations, including the United States. However, a high level Pentagon source says that Kim Jong Il is not the most troubling figure out there with high explosives. In fact this source says the real pervasive threat may come from a place closer to home. This is Adam Webb, a thirty-five year old resident of South Jordan, Utah. Adam is an accountant who spends his time working, raising his three children, and playing with his dog Mylo. Mr. Webb appears to be your normal American living his life happily and within the law. However, my high level Pentagon source alleges that this man is far more of a threat than he appears, and the source of that threat may be concentrated in Mr. Webb's backyard shed.
My source, who only wants to be identified as Felt, claims that over the past weeks and months Adam webb has made numerous trips to purchase and smuggle home a large supply of high explosives. Felt claims that not only does Mr. Webb have more resources at his disposal than the entire nation of North Korea, but as of June 7th, Mr. Webb has more explosives at his disposal than the entire military of North Korea.
I reached Mr. Webb for a comment on this. He said, "No, there is no way that I have been going up to Evanston, Wyoming on a weekly basis to buy fireworks that are illegal in Utah. No, that is totally not true, nudge nudge wink wink."
This may end up to be another case where the claims made by my source Felt may be unverifiable. I do look forward to going to Mr. Webb's Fourth of July BBQ where he promises explosions, meat, explosions, beer, explosions, and explosions. Should be a blast.
Monopoly PS3 Review My father taught me many things. How to shave, how to throw a baseball, how to get rejected by women, etc. One of the most treasured things he taught me how to dominate at the board game Monopoly. Basically, he taught me how to be a complete and unapologetic dick while playing the game. Reject all deals proposed to you, propose deals that are to your overwhelming advantage, do and say things that are aggressive, arrogant, and self-centered, and don't be afraid to offend people in the pursuit of utter victory.
Through use of these tactics, I have gone nearly ten years without losing a single game against anyone. I have not always been dominant in my victory, but I have ALWAYS won. However I've paid a price for these victory. I've played against many people who were my friends before the game and despised me after it, including several women that I was interested in romantically. This has caused me to enact a policy for myself: Don't play against anyone you like. In essence, if I play Monopoly against you, you can rest assured that I hate you.
I have played many different versions of Monopoly in video game form. NES, Playstation, Cell Phone, iPod, iPod Touch, and most recently PS3. I know that games of Monopoly take a long time to play out, sometimes months, but I expected video games versions of Monopoly to take not nearly as long. That was not to be. The PS3 version of Monopoly takes a long time to play out, especially when you involve the maximum of four users, to the point where I recognized my inevitable victory several hours before it happened.
That stands as my only complaint about this game, and if you know anything about Monopoly, you've grown to accept that as the norm. The graphics, sound, interface, and offline multiplayer are all excellent, and something that you will experience for months at a time.
Monopoly: B-
Deaf Ears
Have you ever been watching a movie or a television show with someone and the person you're watching it with keeps on interjecting? Whether it's reading the subtitles of a foreign movie, pointing out the actors in a TV show, saying this is a legendary scene in a movie, or even reminding you of the plot of the movie your are watching, isn't this just really annoying, Mom?
Why am I writing about this here? Not only is this highly personal, but this won't reach the intended audience as my Mom doesn't read my blog. I'd be better serves turning this into a Facebook post. But then I'd have to endure all the shit my Mom sends me. Not things I don't like or things that are crap, things that are SHIT.
For example, my Mom sent me a polygamous wife in Facebook. Why? Is she trying to make a comment about the status of my romantic life or does she think this might be fun? Because when I think of the horribly abusive environment that seems to persist in many polygamous cultures, fun is not what springs to mind.
I'm not really going anywhere with this and I feel the need for an ending right now. Hey look, a kittie!
NOW IS THE TIME ON SPROCKETS WHERE WE DANCE!
The Trend Continues A couple of years ago, Nintendo came out with their motion control technology. It wasn't perfect and they've since tried to perfect it with add-ons, but Nintendo's product accomplished something. It got people talking about, interested in, and ultimately doing something with motion control. In short, Nintendo got people started. This year at E3, Microsoft introduced their own motion control technology with Project NATAL. Microsoft strove to mature the concept of motion control by taking the toy out of our hands and make controls more free form and open. In short, Microsoft serves us as we get older. Also at this year's E3, Sony unveiled it's motion control technology. It consisted of a stick with a ball on it. Sony's technology looks amateurish, lacking, and unappealing. In short, Sony failed. Nintendo got people started, Microsoft serves us as we get older, and Sony fails. The trend continues.
Take your normal superhero origin story. Guy gets powers, guy realizes he has powers, guy goes out to save the world. Now factor this in: the guy has a score to settle.
Everybody wonders what it is that makes them who they are. The Hawk thought that question was securely answered. However a meeting with a boy in a hospital causes him to question everything. Why he is, who he is, what he is, and even if he is.
Eleven years after the events of Consequences Of Mayorust, The Hawk finds himself dealing with many of the same issues that many of us deal with: A less than satisfying job, co-workers of variant annoyance, and a romantic life is unhealthy at best. Thrust into all this is Madison Medina, a well meaning woman who's adversarial relationship with The Hawk morphs into a kind of friendship. Madison, in addition to learning more about herself and her abilities, help to reveal deeper problems inside the organization both she and The Hawk work for.
In every workplace there is a person. A person who doesn't talk to anyone, has walled themselves socially, and seems openly hostile to everyone. Every workplace has this person, even if you don't know of such a person, they're there. The Black Robin Christmas Carol is the story of one of these people. It delves into who this person is, why this person is, and how this person can change for the better.
There is a story. A story of pain, a story of loss, a story of unspeakable horrors, a story that has not been given it's proper attention. Some are ignoring this story. Some are unaware of this story. Some know of this story but are complicit in it's darkness. This is a story that must be told. Told so that the good can stop it and the bad can feel shame for it.
When I thought up thig blog, the name I first thought up was "Random Bullshit". Quickly I recognized that this name would put some people off. Then I thought of the name "Random Bull****". That seemed to be to much clutter. Then I was inspired with the name that dons this blog today.
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