Let it Be

Net neutrality is about who chooses the content you see and use on the internet. Currently it is ourselves. We connect to the internet and open our browsers to use several different search engines and surf several different websites. This is possible because net neutrality allows us to do so by not allowing our internet provider to control of block certain sites. The purpose of net neutrality is to prevent your network provider from degrading your access to these websites, and makes you want to choose an alternative that they want you to choose. The reason why providers do this is simple; $$MONEY$$. Internet providers are getting paid to slow their service down on certain websites to force you to use another website they want you to use. Another case is that the provider has created their own alternative that they want you to become familiar with and start using to gain business from you. It uses their power of providing you with a service, to increase demand and business for something of their own. These conflicts are the restricting battlegrounds between public and private sectors. If net neutrality laws are not enforced, we will forever be controlled.

In this circumstance I'm dwellin' in

A war does not necessarily have to involve countries combating with firearms. I believe that you can be at war with anything. I feel that everyday at some point I am at war. For example, today I am at war to finish two research journals due for a Marketing course, yet I find myself procrastinating and doing Media instead. The other day I was at war with my mother, trying to persuade her to let me go to Montreal for New Years. Tomorrow I will be at war with Calculus, knowing my exam is in less then a week. I am at a constant war with my ex-girlfriend, well for reasons that aren’t even worth mentioning. I am at a war with myself, every morning to get up and get out of bed to attend class, even when it starts at 4pm. I am at war with all my peers, to get the better grade in not just Media, but in four other courses as well. We are at a war with racism every time we make a joke, knowing it’s not funny. We are at war with our environment every time we liter etc…etc…etc… So to answer the question… yes we are at war.

To consume, or not to consume? That is the problem.

Buy Nothing Day brings me back to my favorite teacher from high school once again. Yeah, the one I mentioned earlier who was the definition of a hippie, a 100% anti-consumerism activist. Surprisingly enough, in grade 12 economics I had this exact same question asked to me. I’m not going to do any research, or bore you with the basic facts of what Buy Nothing Day is, because you already know everything and most likely know it better than I do. I’ll give you my insight on things. Everyone (and by everyone I refer to society), talks about how my generation, (the late eighties-early nineties) is leaning towards a more green future, and who can blame us, we’re constantly reminded to follow the 5 R’s and to consume less. This year was my first eligible year to vote, and I voted Green, because I hate the excuse that even if we vote green it’s too late, because excuse my language but that’s bullshit. If we don’t try, it won’t happen yes, so why not try then? Buy Nothing Day is not just about refusing to consume for one day to prove a point, but to realize that there are alternatives to things we do everyday that can help our environment. Consuming less leads to producing less waste for example. Now if I’m not mistaken, this year’s date is the 28th, not the 25th so DON’T CONSUME ON FRIDAY AND REALIZE THE SMALL THINGS YOU CAN DO TO MAKE A MUCH LARGER CHANGE!

Baby Lola and Violence

Now I’m a very honest young man and I won’t lie when I say I completely missed National Media Education Week (gotta love tonsillitis). I’m probably not the only one, so I won’t sit here and bullshit how I did and how it was so much fun and how I cant wait till next November to do it all over again, because we’re grown adults and I’ll lay you the truth. I visited their website though and found a lot of neat things. Under their activities it displayed several things you can teach young kids about Media. One that stuck out to me was violence. I have a little five year old sister back at home that calls me almost every night simply just to say hello since she’s figured out that holding down the number one key on my fathers cell phone speed dials her to me. This past weekend I sat down with her to watch some of her favorite cartoons. After watching several Popeye the Sailor episodes I asked her if she knew what the word violence meant. She said no, and I wasn’t too surprised considering she’s only five. Though when I asked her what the word death meant she said yes. She carried on a story how Popeye dies almost every time before he eats the spinach. Now, the media education website goes into a lot of detail as to what you should talk to your kids about in terms of violence, but my sister wouldn’t understand half the stuff they suggested. So instead, I carried a little small talk with her as to what violence is. I told her how anger could turn into violence and the consequences she would face. I explained how the violence she sees in cartoons is not acceptable in her everyday life because cartoons are make belief, and when someone in her cartoon gets hurt, it might be funny in the cartoon, but not in real life. Even though it might sound that this conversation was a scholarly discussion, it lasted probably less then five minutes due to her small attention span, but I did get her to promise not to act like they do in her cartoons, and to explain to me what violence was. She got the gist of it.

MORE BARS, FEWER DROPPED CALLS!

For the media hegemonies question in our blog list, I have chosen to research the Major Media Company AT&T. AT&T Inc. leads the US in both local and long distance telephone services, DSL Internet access and wireless service with 71.4 million wireless customers and more than 150 million total customers. AT&T was founded in 1893 under the name Southwestern Bell Corporation. It was one of the seven original Regional Bell Operating Companies known as “Baby Bells”. It was incorporated by AT&T Corporation as a result of U.S antitrust action against their company in 1983. It took over Southwestern Bell on January 1, 1984. At its annual stockholders meeting in 1995, it announced that its name would be change to SBC Communications Inc. SBC went on to acquire Baby Bell Pacific Telesis, and then in 1997 former independent Bell System franchise SNET (Southern New England Telephone). In 1998 SBC and Ameritech announced to merger. In 1999, SBC became a part of the Dow Jones Industrial. In 2002, SBC ended marketing its operating companies under different names, and named its companies based on the state. Cross-media ownership is the restriction of a Media company to only be able to own two mediums such as a radio station and a local newspaper, or an over-the-air TV station and one radio station etc, ultimately, it prevents companies from holding a monopoly. In AT&T’s case, it is distributing telephone services as well as internet services. When SBC acquired Ameritech, it only got the right to do so from the Federal Communications Commission on the basis that it would allow competitors access to local markets where it had a monopoly. The FCC later fined SBC $6 million for failure to meet this agreement because they held a monopoly. This shows the implications of cross-media ownership.

Media is the new BLACK

Alright, so last night I looked at the next batch of blogs that I need to complete for Dr. Lipton and the media log question jumped out at me. I thought this was a very interesting idea and couldn’t wait to jump on it (realistically I had no choice). So this morning I woke up, grabbed my IPod and went to brush my teeth. I quickly realized that my day had barely started and already I was involved in some sort of media, my music mp3 player. I put some bagels in the toaster and grabbed my GQ magazine. I laughed as I realized how quickly I was getting exposed to so many ads without really ever thinking about it. I connected to the internet and my homepage; Kanye West’s blog came up. I tallied my count to four. I got dressed and headed to class. I kept an eye out for ads and posters around campus as I made my way to class. I stopped counting after 23. After class I went to the cafeteria. As I ate my food, I enjoyed the soothing sounds of CHYM FM, yet another form of Media. I went back to my room, and watched Amazing Race off of http://www.surfthechannel.com/. Shortly after I fell asleep, and when I woke up, I was back on my laptop surfing the net, getting attacked by internet advertising and live broadcasting from every direction. The day continued much the same way I’ve already explained, more classes, more billboards and posters, more soothing music and more internet surfing. In the end, the three most dominant media forces that affect me on a daily basis are magazines, radio, and internet. I participate in media economies by surfing the net over 50% of my day, as well as having to listen to audio and video recordings of some of my lectures online. Media has seen a large advancement over the past thirty years. An interesting fact I found put up by the 2007 U.S. Census Bureau's Statistical Abstract of the United States, is that Adults and teens will spend nearly five months (3,518 hours) next year watching television, surfing the Internet, reading daily newspapers and listening to personal music devices. Funny, but that pretty much summed up my daily media log.

Time for a CHANGE

I personally do not have any opinion on American Politics. As immature as this may sound, I do not find an interest when it comes to politics in general at all. I feel this is a view I will posses only for a couple of more years, considering I just became eligible to vote. Soon enough I will have to get very involved seeing as I will have to be voting for something I will strongly vouch for. For the sake of this blog though, I will spit my personal thoughts on the Presidential Election, seeing as it is a very legendary one already. Seeing as the U.S.A is slowly approaching a recession, and almost a depression, this election is a very important one for the near future of the star country. Their international influence as well as power, is being seen as a decline due to their interactions with the war in Iraq and relations with Middle Eastern countries. This election is a memorable one because it is the first time an African American is a nominee. The two candidates pose two very opposite views. John McCain, a Vietnam War Veteran, and realist, whose views resemble those of current presidents George W. Bush, seem to be presenting an America we have already seen. Barrack Obama on the other hand, an African American raised in Indonesia, with idealist views, presents a picture of America that many have been waiting for. The way I see it is, America needs a change, and that is what Obama is offering. The only thing that is stopping him is the citizens of the United States that strongly believe the Republican views of George W. Bush, that John McCain seems to resemble, and the views that have been followed over the last eight years. The views that seem to be working right?………….. Just Vote Obama damn it!

ICT= Life

“Most recent statistics cite 1,463,632,361 Internet users worldwide, of which approximately 22 million were in Canada”. This stat should sound very familiar to those in Dr. Lipton’s Media class. Knowing that Canada’s population is somewhere in the mid 30 millions, I think that stat is a very impressive one. It shows me how much the internet has conquered in its relatively short life span. Living in a world without the internet, is one I cannot see myself living in. Yes, that may sound extreme, but it’s a life that I have accustomed to, and very used to. Everyone probably hears stories from their parents how they had to dig all their information out of big fat books, while we (and by we I refer to my generation) are so privileged to have such a tool to help us with everything. When I stop and think as to how much I actually use the internet, I really am amazed. Everything from checking the weather, to reading a whole novel, can now be found on the internet. It’s changed my life in the way that all of my essential school related necessities can now be easily accessed with a simple click. Anything at all that comes to mind; I can simply search on the internet and satisfy my boredom. I can communicate to friends through instant messaging I cannot see everyday, as well as feed my Facebook addiction through the wonderful internet. The significance of ICTs or otherwise known as “Information and Communication Technologies” is to communicate information to an audience. According to Wikipedia, ICTs do this through any medium to record information, or broadcast information. In other words, anything from television, radio, the internet, magazines, newspapers, and anything else that is able to communicate information is considered an ICT. The future only holds space for more of these technologies… our job is to use them.

I'd rather wear the skin I'm in

This is by far my favourite topic! CULTURE JAMMING! I had a pretty awesome economics teacher in high school who was 100% anti-consumerism. He owned a pair of black spot shoes that were made from completely recycled goods you can purchase from the Ad Busters (a non-profit, anti-consumerism organization). The whole idea of looking outside the box and poking fun at popular culture I find very entertaining. The familiar “I-raq” ads mimicking the previously talked about Ipod ads, give you as the reader a familiar image, but with a serious message behind it. The image I chose to analyze though is the “The True Colors of Benetton” poster. The company this ad is poking fun at if not already figured out is the popular European “United Colors of Benetton” fashion store. I visited the store on my last Euro-trip and found myself in an unusually large American Apparel, only to find the prices to be in triple digits for a simple t-shirt. Seeing this poster made me do a *fist pump* as I laughed. I knew exactly what it was trying to portray. Benetton is known to provide the consumer with vibrant coloured fashionable clothes that can only be purchased at their store. The poster is portraying that in reality, the only colors of Benetton is the green in the money you spend. The poster is telling you to look outside the box and realize that you are paying for a label, not quality. I walked out of Benetton that day with just a catalogue and after seeing this poster… I couldn’t be more pleased with my decision.

:O Is that the IPhone!!

Although I feel many of my fellow Gryphons will pick the same technology as I have, I still felt the need to express my opinion on the legendary IPod. It feels like yesterday was 2001 when the brick of a music playing device came out and sparked the eyes of millions of teenagers. Today I see it as more than just a MP3 player, it’s an image of modern and popular culture. I personally don’t even have to see the IPod itself to distinguish it. Their iconic white headphones tell me right away that the person is rockin’ out with an IPod. Apple is completely adjusting to today’s markets as well. In previous years, you could get an MP3 player for a lot cheaper than an IPod, but recently, IPod has been lowering the prices drastically to expand their target markets. Speaking of target markets, IPod is known to target teenagers with their hip commercials and popular songs, but it didn’t take long for their commercials to appeal to other demographics older than teenagers. Their continuous promise to be the best on the market, as well as offering a variety of products keeps them on top of the competition. It has come to the point that if you own an IPod, you are portrayed as being hip and cool. What Apple and its product have done to today’s culture is totally brainwashed it to view the IPod as a necessity over a luxury good. It will take a strong force from another company to try and overpower Apple in the MP3 business, considering their current stance on the market. The biggest fear I see Apple portraying is the brand new IPhone… I don’t know who should be more worried? My mom knowing that another $300 out of her wallet will finally make me “cool” again? Or telling Nokia and LG that they’re in trouble? Can’t wait to see what’s next!

SEX!

It is only human nature to look twice when seeing the simple three letter word. Caught my attention just the other day when I saw a campaign poster from a fellow student running for a position in the so called residence parliamentary. A small three letter word, in large font, bolded, and underneath a caption stating; “ Now that I have your attention, Vote …” It was then that I realized how easy it was to grab a hold of one’s attention. The poster made me think of question number five of selecting and analyzing an ad from a magazine. I thought of an old SKYY Vodka ad I had seen in GQ magazine from a couple years back. It consists of a very attractive blonde dressed in a bikini, airbrushed to perfection, with her body laying away from you as the viewer, tanning on a perfect blue sunny day. Standing over her, is an upper class male dressed in a well tailored suit, wearing expensive accessories holding a bottle of SKYY and two fancy glasses. The first thing I noticed was the girl, simply due to the exposure of her body, not until my second glance did I notice the signature blue SKYY bottle, and third glance was once again the girl. Expose her body, sell the vodka. The title of the ad "Riviera Rendezvous” got me. Although hidden on the side crease, the viewer can still see that this man means to get the woman intoxicated and take advantage of the situation. SKYY is making me believe that if I buy their product, I’ll get the girl. Well, there’s only one way to find out…

Blah blah blog

OOOOOOKaaaaaaaay! So after struggling to extract the Word Press zip file, BLOGSPOT it is! My computer has been acting quite strange lately so I’m not too surprised I couldn’t do something as easy as extract a file but Blogger.com was way too easy to use. I provided an email address, made up a strong password, chose a display name I thought suited me best and VOILA! Stefan Kovacevic created his very first blog. I was very impressed with the different types of templates I was able to choose from, everything was really organized and easy to access. It’s going to take awhile for me to get used to actual “blogging” though, considering I’m writing this draft in Microsoft Word, but as Dr. Lipton said; “Asking students to participate in digital culture allows them to make a place for themselves on the global map”, and that’s exactly what I’ll pursue to do. I picked up some key points about participatory journalism as well. Realizing how easy it was to make a blog, it shows me that absolutely anyone with access to the internet can make their own blog. Creating a blog gives everyone a chance to speak their mind about absolutely anything they dream of. As I just wrote that last sentence, I got a flashback to a news report from about a year ago about the shooting at Virginia Tech, where the gunmen Seung-Hui Cho posted pictures of himself holding several firearms on his blog on the day of the shooting. Its situations like these that make me think twice about the use of participatory journalism, but those situations are rare. My ideal view of participatory journalism is everyday lower income minorities posting their own thoughts on current events or anything that they feel like. Although these posts may lack quality and content, one must consider that everyone has their own view on certain things. Anyways, I’m slowly passing the 250 word limit so peeeeaaace ouuuuut!