I remember watching the Borat character in the "Ali G-Show" a couple of years ago and now after Sacha Cohen (the man behind "Borat") dedicated a whole movie to him, the whole world starts talking about this movie or tries to imitate his accent and his jokes.
First of all, I have to admit that I really like this kind of humour, but after having read a couple of articles which talk about the dangers of this movie, I have to admit too that not everyone gets the "real" joke behind Cohen's ballyhoo. I am probably biased, because one of my best friends is actually from Kazakhstan and since the first trailers of this movie were released, he has tried to convince me not to watch it... He keeps asking me me how we (people living in the 21st century) could not be even a little bit informed about Kazakhstan and why we tend to think of the East as an underdeveloped whole with no exceptions??? To be honest I do not have an answer???
This one article that I found from Eric Weiner ("The Real Kazakhkstan") deals with this issue and tries to make people aware of how people could misunderstand the message behind Cohen's humou. Please read it in the for my friend Genya's sake, because he has no problems with Jews at all, does not shoot dogs, does not sleep with his sister, does not believe in Pamela Anderson's virginity, does not listen to Corky Butshek and does not wrestle me all the time... :)
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Borat
A few weeks back our school had free tickets to a preview of the film "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan". I know several people from the class were able to go see it. So I'm sure this will inspire a couple of you to share your thoughts.
I thought the movie was a brilliant mixture of grotesque humor and social satire, but I can understand how some people might take offense to it. Throughout the movie he constantly jokes about cultural stereotypes, religious beliefs, and social actions. In many cases the real insult of the joke is not even directed at the culture, religion, or people that are at the surface of the joke. Rather, the joke is directed toward the people around him (several of them blatantly racist). For example, many of his jokes involve Jews, but you have to think about the joke with an open mind and realize that he is not making fun of the Jews (he is actually Jewish himself). The review below brings up the question of "Does being Jewish himself make his jokes acceptable?" I guess it is a matter of opinion as well as how you view the direction of the joke.
I'd like to hear some other thoughts about the movie.
Check out the NYTimes movie review for Borat.
I thought the movie was a brilliant mixture of grotesque humor and social satire, but I can understand how some people might take offense to it. Throughout the movie he constantly jokes about cultural stereotypes, religious beliefs, and social actions. In many cases the real insult of the joke is not even directed at the culture, religion, or people that are at the surface of the joke. Rather, the joke is directed toward the people around him (several of them blatantly racist). For example, many of his jokes involve Jews, but you have to think about the joke with an open mind and realize that he is not making fun of the Jews (he is actually Jewish himself). The review below brings up the question of "Does being Jewish himself make his jokes acceptable?" I guess it is a matter of opinion as well as how you view the direction of the joke.
I'd like to hear some other thoughts about the movie.
Check out the NYTimes movie review for Borat.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
2006
First and foremost, I am ashamed of my home state passing the clearly bigoted and unconstituitional implementation of religion on the state. Thankfully though at 10:10 the races still hold hope. I am going to provide some humor tonight to lighten the mood. Afterall, with any senator who can make a man on dog comparison (Santorum) there should be some humor in the air. Here are some fun lyrics along with some photos.
SWEET NEO CON
(M. Jagger/K. Richards)
You call yourself a Christian
I think that you're a hypocrite
You say you are a patriot
I think that you're a crock of shit
And listen, I love gasoline
I drink it every day
But it's getting very pricey
And who is going to pay
How come you're so wrong
My sweet neo con.... Yeah
It's liberty for all
'Cause democracy's our style
Unless you are against us
Then it's prison without trial
But one thing that is certain
Life is good at Haliburton
If you're really so astute
You should invest at Brown & Root.... Yeah
How come you're so wrong
My sweet neo con
If you turn out right
I'll eat my hat tonight
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah....
It's getting very scary
Yes, I'm frightened out of my wits
There's bombers in my bedroom
Yeah and it's giving me the shits
We must have loads more bases
To protect us from our foes
Who needs these foolish friendships
We're going it alone
How come you're so wrong
My sweet neo con
Where's the money gone
In the Pentagon
Yeah ha ha ha
Yeah, well, well
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah...
Neo con
Monday, November 06, 2006
Vote !!!
After having talked briefly about the campaign ads on Slate.com, I checked the site and just wanted to add the link here "The Slimiest Campaign Ads of 2006"
The adds are interesting and very disturbing at the same time, because I have never experienced German campaign acts to be so insulting and simple-minded like these ads. Somehow it is extremely difficult to spot a certain difference in the ads, because both parties use excactly the same methods and techniques... What do you think???
But nevertheless it is extremely important to vote and so far I have met a lot of fellow students who have never voted before and who wont take part in the upcomimg vote...
The adds are interesting and very disturbing at the same time, because I have never experienced German campaign acts to be so insulting and simple-minded like these ads. Somehow it is extremely difficult to spot a certain difference in the ads, because both parties use excactly the same methods and techniques... What do you think???
But nevertheless it is extremely important to vote and so far I have met a lot of fellow students who have never voted before and who wont take part in the upcomimg vote...
Mountain Top Removal and Recycling
After attending the presentation on Mountain Top Removal and seeing the devastating results of this terrible method of obtaining coal, I found myself more aware of the wasted energy around me. I've always been one to shut off the lights when I leave a room and to recycle a can or bottle rather than toss it in the garbage. Sometimes knowing the facts helps to make people more away of the energy they are using. So I've found two sites with some interesting facts about recycling.
http://www.oberlin.edu/recycle/facts.html
This site is organized into specific recycling categories.
http://www.recycle-more.co.uk/nav/page712.aspx
Although I found many of the facts on this second site helpful, I do not like the way they organized the facts. The first fact states that "aluminium is the third most abundant element in the earth's crust and is the earth's second most used metal". Now the people who need to know more about recycling might think, "Well it is the third most abundant metal, so what is the harm in throwing it away?". I think this fact is one of the least important, and should not be listed at the top.
http://www.oberlin.edu/recycle/facts.html
This site is organized into specific recycling categories.
http://www.recycle-more.co.uk/nav/page712.aspx
Although I found many of the facts on this second site helpful, I do not like the way they organized the facts. The first fact states that "aluminium is the third most abundant element in the earth's crust and is the earth's second most used metal". Now the people who need to know more about recycling might think, "Well it is the third most abundant metal, so what is the harm in throwing it away?". I think this fact is one of the least important, and should not be listed at the top.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
The US, the Philliphines, and the birth of an American legend
Reading Schoonover this weekend reminded me of a connection to a caliber and firearm that was and is the quietensetialy American pistol. While the .45 has evolved with companies such as Heckler and Koch, Glock (my personal favorite), Kimber, and most recently the Brazilian manufacturer Taurus; the gun is ingrained with the remembrance of its original name, the Colt 1911 Government Issue .45 semi-automatic sidearm.
You are most likely thinking right now that the crazy southerner has gone of his rocker again, but unfortunately for you I have not.
The Colt .45 was developed when the .38 was insufficient to stop Philiphine rebels who were often under the influence of strength altering drugs. Furthermore, US troops found that insurgent warfare required the ability to stop a motivated opponent with the first shot. The Army’s answer was to have Colt firearms develop a new pistol. It was initially issued as a revolver but the soon infamous semi-auto was issued. It served US troops in World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, and with decreasing use in the First Gulf War. In an effort to deal with things such as the Geneva Convention and the international use of the 9x19mm shell; the US switched to the 9mm in 1990.
The .45 is an interesting firearm for our class for two reasons. I am assuming that despite its reliability, effectiveness for self-defense, and enjoyment it provides on the range, you are most likely interested in its historical importance and relevance to class.
First, the weapon can be understood as the evolution of American arms supremacy. Despite the fact that at times the Germans and Japanese may have had better tools for a time, the .45 illustrates the continual growth of American armaments into being the best in the world. The .45 grew with each war to accommodate the needs of a modernizing army.
Second, at the turn of a new century the US has found itself again fighting a highly motivated, rebel force in an occupied country. US troops (especially the special operations) have found the newer, less powerful 9mm insufficient for one-shot effectiveness. They have returned to the .45 to regain a capability lost in attempt for uniformity. Interestingly, the .45’s used the most are the Heckler and Koch (German), Glock (Austrian), Colt (US), and the Kimber (US). Two out of the four are internationally made (however they do come from one of the century’s other great arm manufacturers).
I hope you found this tangent somewhat interesting. Good night.
http://www.m1911.org/history.htm
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