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Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Uganda and the outing of gays
An Ugandan newspaper "Rolling Stone" published a list of the country´s "top 100" gays and lesbians today, along with their identifying information and pictures. Next to the list was printed the words "hang them".
In Uganda, homosexuality is punishable by law up to a life in prison. Religion and old colonial laws together with Victorian moral codes are claimed to be playing a part in the attitudes against gays in much of the sub-Saharan Africa. The people named in the article are now living in fear, some having to quit jobs and live underground. The paper itself, having been in operation for mere 6 weeks, defends its actions.
Judgment against homosexuality is not, by any means, a solely African phenomenon. It lingers everywhere in our modern world. Heterosexuality is deemed as "the norm" in our expectations, laws, norms and cultural products. The majority rules, as they say. It always puzzles me how deeply rooted the ideas of "us" versus the dangerous and less valued "them" is. "Them" is a tabu, and needs to be weeded out of our way, not shaking the agreed upon view of the world. Some scientists claim this need for dichotomy in organizing our reality is wired in our brains, some claim it is learned behavior. But I wonder how long it takes from us all to accept these people and face the fear of them without talks of hanging. It is 2010. 50 years? 100?
In Uganda, homosexuality is punishable by law up to a life in prison. Religion and old colonial laws together with Victorian moral codes are claimed to be playing a part in the attitudes against gays in much of the sub-Saharan Africa. The people named in the article are now living in fear, some having to quit jobs and live underground. The paper itself, having been in operation for mere 6 weeks, defends its actions.
Judgment against homosexuality is not, by any means, a solely African phenomenon. It lingers everywhere in our modern world. Heterosexuality is deemed as "the norm" in our expectations, laws, norms and cultural products. The majority rules, as they say. It always puzzles me how deeply rooted the ideas of "us" versus the dangerous and less valued "them" is. "Them" is a tabu, and needs to be weeded out of our way, not shaking the agreed upon view of the world. Some scientists claim this need for dichotomy in organizing our reality is wired in our brains, some claim it is learned behavior. But I wonder how long it takes from us all to accept these people and face the fear of them without talks of hanging. It is 2010. 50 years? 100?
Monday, October 18, 2010
The New Willow Smith music video
This has been expected since the first bits of her singing turned up online, and Jay Z could not stay quiet about the wonders of his new 9-year-old protégé. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the girl is just 9_years_old.
But please remember, we are not talking about just any common child: this is the offspring of Will Smith and Jada Smith, the Hollywood powerhouse. Their older child Jayden has already been destined to greatness via the main role in this year´s Karate Kid, and now the younger team member of the Smith-dynasty shows her talents (or whips her hair).
But of course she did not come up with the song herself, as has been previously suggested. Versions of this song can be found on Youtube, song by people such as Jennifer Lopez. Common music business stuff, recycling the hits until they find a good and promising home.
This is a very clever business move in general. Nowadays it is country and kids´music that sells, the rest is uncertain. Justin Bieber is 16, and getting too old for these markets. A new kid star is golden. With any luck, Willow will whip her hair and rock out hits for a couple of years, and then? She will never have to work again.
Facebook Privacy Reach
Wall Street Journal revealed today that many of the top applications ("apps") on Facebook are actually devices for gathering and selling user data for third parties, namely advertising and internet tracking companies. In other words, every time one engages on Farmville or Texas Hold ´em poker, for example, the Big Brother is watching and recording. Or shall we say, the Ad Brother is.
Officially Facebook claims that no actual private data is compromised and that they are limiting the ad-and data collection companies´abilities to gain information. Thousands of applications are said to have been disabled for violating its policies. However, it is hard to believe that Facebook itself did not know of the scope of this data mining in action. The growing number of applications are producing revenue for Facebook via virtual currency used in the games.
Data gathering seems to be so pervasive all around the internet these days, that one must ask, are we surprised of this news?
Officially Facebook claims that no actual private data is compromised and that they are limiting the ad-and data collection companies´abilities to gain information. Thousands of applications are said to have been disabled for violating its policies. However, it is hard to believe that Facebook itself did not know of the scope of this data mining in action. The growing number of applications are producing revenue for Facebook via virtual currency used in the games.
Data gathering seems to be so pervasive all around the internet these days, that one must ask, are we surprised of this news?
Friday, October 15, 2010
Sarah Palin and Crack for the general mind
Have you looked at the general program offering on TV these days? It is all reality this and reality that. A show on the mundane everyday life in cake-making or flower hacking must have signified the low point for me -who watches this stuff? Sometimes I just hate people. Not really. But sometimes.
This reality-genre is widely known as crack for the production companies: cheap, fast, fills the schedule and gathers the necessary audience to suck in those endless commercials. The amount of commercials in television has grown steadily over the years- if you don't believe that, just pick up those old Dynasty tapes and measure the minutes. Programs used to last longer, because they could. Nowadays they just take up room from the most important thing, which is ad space. That brings in the cash for the companies.
But they would not be making crack, if there was not a willing, participating consumer for that.
And this brings us to Sarah Palin and her latest PR-stunt. She knows how important it is to stay relevant, especially with the next presidential elections coming. After all, one daughter imitating dancing in skimpy outfits on Monday night prime time just doesn´t quite cut it. We need more exposure.
This reality-genre is widely known as crack for the production companies: cheap, fast, fills the schedule and gathers the necessary audience to suck in those endless commercials. The amount of commercials in television has grown steadily over the years- if you don't believe that, just pick up those old Dynasty tapes and measure the minutes. Programs used to last longer, because they could. Nowadays they just take up room from the most important thing, which is ad space. That brings in the cash for the companies.
But they would not be making crack, if there was not a willing, participating consumer for that.
And this brings us to Sarah Palin and her latest PR-stunt. She knows how important it is to stay relevant, especially with the next presidential elections coming. After all, one daughter imitating dancing in skimpy outfits on Monday night prime time just doesn´t quite cut it. We need more exposure.
Fiona Apple and the ode for creativity
Finally the notoriously reclusive yet lovely singer Fiona Apple has emerged from her cave.
Her last studioalbum Extraordinary Machine came out in 2005, after bitter disputes and creative differences with the record label. New material is promised for next year -whether this actually happens, remains to be seen. Apple is known to work slow, and she has stated this to be a frustrating issue for her inner circle.
In this sweet clip she talks about creativity and music. Extra points for the catchy gloves.
Her last studioalbum Extraordinary Machine came out in 2005, after bitter disputes and creative differences with the record label. New material is promised for next year -whether this actually happens, remains to be seen. Apple is known to work slow, and she has stated this to be a frustrating issue for her inner circle.
In this sweet clip she talks about creativity and music. Extra points for the catchy gloves.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Solving the smallest Rubik-cube in the world
I don´t know why, but watching this footage makes me all twitchy and uncomfortable. Kind of like holding the original bigger version of the cube. Never quite got the fascination, although I´m usually the one hooked on all the trendy games of the season.
The cube is only 10 mm, or 0.39 inches.
The cube is only 10 mm, or 0.39 inches.
Back to the Future once more
Has it really been 25 years already since the movie Back to the Future emerged?
The movie and its sequels (to a lesser agree, must admit) still hold time and entertain, although it´s close to 2013, and there is still no sight of flying cars and hover boards. Sneakers that magically tie laces on their own?
Here´s a promo video for the upcoming Scream Awards 2010, with the familiar Michael J. Fox reprising his role. He still looks the part. Did you know that Eric Stoltz was supposed to play the main role, but was canned after five weeks into the shooting of the first film? He just wasn´t funny enough, as the powers that be decided. In a major studio film like this, after all the work and five weeks, a decision of this caliber is not done lightly.To be sidelined and tossed aside as "just not good enough" must sting. Stoltz ended up doing bit parts here and there, as a drug seller in "Pulp Fiction" and lately, in the scifi-show "Caprica" as a mad scientist.
Although, after now finally seeing the old footage, I must admit that they made the right decision. Fox nailed the part and helped making it a huge success worldwide, with nearly 400 million $ in gross profits from just the first movie alone.
The movie and its sequels (to a lesser agree, must admit) still hold time and entertain, although it´s close to 2013, and there is still no sight of flying cars and hover boards. Sneakers that magically tie laces on their own?
Here´s a promo video for the upcoming Scream Awards 2010, with the familiar Michael J. Fox reprising his role. He still looks the part. Did you know that Eric Stoltz was supposed to play the main role, but was canned after five weeks into the shooting of the first film? He just wasn´t funny enough, as the powers that be decided. In a major studio film like this, after all the work and five weeks, a decision of this caliber is not done lightly.To be sidelined and tossed aside as "just not good enough" must sting. Stoltz ended up doing bit parts here and there, as a drug seller in "Pulp Fiction" and lately, in the scifi-show "Caprica" as a mad scientist.
Although, after now finally seeing the old footage, I must admit that they made the right decision. Fox nailed the part and helped making it a huge success worldwide, with nearly 400 million $ in gross profits from just the first movie alone.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Armless pianist wins China´s got talent
Playing the piano does not come easy for most of us, but imagine doing it with your hands--and well?
Liu Wei just took the grand prize in China´s version of the "(country´s name) Got Talent" reality-tv competition.
Susan Boyle has got nothing in comparison to this skill.
Liu Wei just took the grand prize in China´s version of the "(country´s name) Got Talent" reality-tv competition.
Susan Boyle has got nothing in comparison to this skill.
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