Ray-Ray

It has always been interesting to me how much comedians can get away with. They can say some pretty offensive things under the pretense of comedy and people usually just think its funny. I'm one of those people. I love watching shows like south park or watching stand up on comedy central. Comedians have this way of highlighting these completely not P.C. things that are realities in our society and making them funny. It fascinates me. Anyway, I went to the comedian that was on campus earlier tonight, Ben Hague. He has been featured on comedy central and opened for Dane Cook recently. I really enjoyed his show and his humor. One of the funniest parts of his show was a joke about the nav system called Tom-Tom. He said he asked for one for Christmas but instead his dad bought him a knock off version called a Ray-Ray. He explained that the Ray-Ray was not as polite as the Tom-Tom. For example when he missed a turn, instead of saying in a calm voice "recalculating"; the Ray-Ray would yell "What the f*ck? you missed the turn what the f*ck are we supposed to do now?". I thought this was hysterical but the joke only got a few laughs. He continued by explaining an even cheaper version called a Ling-Ling that just rammed you into other cars on the road. At this joke everyone in the audience was cracking up and applauding. At this, Ben Hague paused and pointed out the fact that no one felt comfortable laughing at the black joke, but was totally fine with the Asian joke possibly because there were no Asians in the room. The whole audience laughed at this realizing that it was probably true. Sometimes we take things so seriously we cant even laugh an obviously funny joke. Not everything has to be SO P.C... And if any arena has some room for the not so politically correct stuff, its comedy.

Love that Dirtyyy Water.

I cant even think of anything else to write about right now besides the tragedy that was Boston sports this weekend. What a disappointment. Is it possible that our reign as greatest sports town in the world is coming to an end? I hope not but that's how it's looking. I'm not a crazy sports fanatic, but I love being from Boston and I love when we win. I have been to every championship rally and parade since the Pat's first one when I was in middle school. Sports are just something that brings people together, especially around here. If you have ever been to one of those rallies you know what I mean. It's a weird thing that's hard to explain but your in a place, with all of these people who you don't know but you are somehow connected to them; by a sense of pride and love for Boston. That description doesn't do it justice, but It's pretty awesome. I remember being in my dorm room when the Sox won the world series for the 2nd time. I lived in crimson at the time and people went crazy. We all ran outside and into the miles and dinardo courtyard. Everyone was just jumping around and screaming and chanting ridiculous chants like Yankees Suck. It was amazing. That is definitely up there with my favorite memories at Bridgewater. I didn't know half of the people outside that night, just like when you go to a Pats or Sox game you don't know anyone, but your all Boston sports fans, which is a strong tie. Once again, I love being from Boston and having amazing sports teams that bring this town together regardless of income, gender, race, religion or anything else. It's a shame that we have to rely on something like sports to look past these things. On the other hand, I guess we should be grateful for the brief moments of bliss that our teams have provided us with. Here's to hoping that we get a few more of the moments in the future.

Brothers

Has anyone else seen this show, "Brothers" on FOX? I basically spent this entire rainy Sunday in bed, which was fabulous by the way, but I watched alottt of TV (before and after the Pats game of course). This show was on back to back to back. I passed by it about 25 times in my channel surfing until something caught my eye and made me watch for a few minutes. It was a black man in a wheelchair. The show is based around a black family, one son whose a former NFL football player, the other who was severely injured in a car accident and their parents whom they now both live with. I don't know why but the image of a black man with a disability as the main character on a TV show caught me off guard. There aren't many people with disabilities on television to begin with. I feel like a producer would feel like giving a character a wheel chair or some other obstacle in life would be enough, they don't need to be diverse on top of that. But, that isn't real. White people aren't the only people who get into car accidents or who are disabled for any other reason. The character on Brothers inspired me a little. This isn't a guy who's sitting a home dwelling on the fact that he cant walk, or asking god "why me?". He owns and runs a restaurant, is very competitive with his athletic brother and is even good at bowling. I'm sure I put more thought into seeing this show today because of this class but I'm glad I stopped and watched it. It reminded me that race isn't the only way to view diversity, and I hope we start seeing this kind of diversity on TV more in the future.

What gets covered.

It seems like all I have heard about in any news outlet this week has been the murder of Annie Le. The Yale student was found stuffed behind a wall, brutally suffocated and murdered on the day she was supposed to be married. This story is obviously horrific but what exactly made it headline news for an entire week? Please don't misunderstand what I'm asking. I think what happened to this young girl is inexcusable and her murderer should rot in hell. But, as awful as it is, people are brutally murdered everyday. What makes certain crimes headline worthy? Was it the fact that she was young and defenseless? Pretty? About to be married? I don't know the answers to these questions but I think its something worth considering. If this had been a black man and woman would it have had the same effect on the media? What if Annie Le had been white instead of Asian? What if the suspect had been black instead of white? Would any of these factors affect the way we interpret the story? Its just something that came to mind in regards to this class.

Your right Obama, he is a jackass.

Of course this whole saga wouldnt be complete without a comment from the prez. In an "off the record" portion of a CNBC interview on monday, Obama refered to Kanye as a jackass in regards to the whole VMA situation. People in the interview room who overheard this comment imidiately posted it on twitter, the video got leaked and quickly taken down but its still out there and I have attached the link here. The president has gotten alot of slack for this comment and comments like it in the recent past but personally I find it refreshing. He said what everyone else was thinking so whats the problem? He didnt call Kanye a jackass in an adress to congress or a state of the union speech, it was a side comment before an interview. Give him a break. I think its really nice to see the president this way. He is human. He watched the VMAs or at least heard about them. Its nice to know that he actually lives on the same planet as us, which was questionable with our past president. And he is OBVIOUSLY a closet Taylor fan... well il keep telling myself that anyway because it makes me love Obama just a little bit more. I would love to know what Kanye thinks of the president now, he had so much to say about George W. Bush hating black people... im sure this wont be the last we hear from either one of them.



http://www.prisonplanet.com/21516.html

Team Taylor all the way, but Beyonce won in the end

I'm sure everyone either watched the VMA's on Sunday or has heard about the craziness by now. Also, I'm sure that I'm just one of about bazillion people blogging about this but I'm OK with that. I am a complete Taylor Swift fan. I love country music and she is absolutely adorable, how could you not love her? Being up against huge name stars like BEYONCE is an incredible accomplishment in itself. I'm sure Taylor didn't think she was going to win, or that her video was any better then Beyonces or anyone elses for that matter. But seriously Kanye, calm down. Do you really think the VMA's are the be all and end all of what matters in the music industry. They are far from it. It makes complete and total sense that Taylor Swift won because the only people in the world who have time to sit at their computers and vote for ridiculous MTV award shows are 13 year old girls. And they probably weren't weighing Beyonce's technical dance skills when they did it. They were jamming to the Taylor Swift CD at a sleep over party. So basically Kanye, you made yourself look like an ass.

Was is racially motivated? I dont know. But did Beyonce come out on top and make her self look fabulous by the end of it all, absolutely. Weather it was Kanye supporting a fellow black performer, or a huge heist by MTV (which would be pretty genius by the way) It did look really awful that they were teaming up on Taylor like that. While beyonce did look surprised that it happened I would have been mad at her too BUT she took the stage at the end of the night and beautifully and gracefully gave it back to Taylor so she could finish her speech. People kiss the ground she walks on anyways and that made her even more of a hero. Alls well that's ends well, and we will not even go into Kanyes half assed apology. Congrats Taylor! and Beyonce wins again.