This video is by The Indobox, a Boston based band.

I really enjoy this video that they put together.

Check them out on facebook and myspace.

Good 'ol Billy Carter

Jimmy Carter's brother, Billy, was the spokesman for 'Billy Beer' (above) back in 1976. He was chosen to be the spokesman because he was known for enjoying and drinking a lot of beer. I think this is really funny because everybody thought he was great.

The quote at the bottom of the can reads, "I had this beer brewed up just for me, it's the best I ever tasted. And I've tasted a lot. I think you'll like it, too." Good 'ol Billy Carter didn't need any publicity from his brother because he got his name out there with this beer.

I also think it's funny that everybody thought he was great. I mean think about now a days, if Obama's lush of a brother came out as a spokesman for a nationally known beer company, would it be taken lightly? Or would everyone think he's endorsing alcoholism? Just something to think about how the times have changed since the 70's.

I wish I could find the original commercial, but I can't. Let me know if you do!

Top 10 Barack Obama Revelations

1. Changing the Future of Politics

Obama was not only appealing on the outside; he was young, hip, charismatic and handsome it was hard to find things wrong with him. People associated him with change and hope, the question was how will this all be accomplished? How will Obama change “American life”? His image made him credible and barely any negativity was flowing from different parties. Everyone could find something that they liked in him.

The media completely generated the "Obama Brand" which created a lot of positive coverage for the candidate. The popular image takes on way more importance than the actual issues. I honestly can only think of two words when it came to Obama’s campaign: hope and change. I really can't remember him giving us any type of plan or concrete evidence that all of this was going to happen. Even though the majority of the population was right there, including myself, cheering him on and voting for him.

In this video, taken from youtube, President Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, speak to Americans watching the highly rated television show, American Idol. There message that is delivered completely connects to any American that relates with kindness. This segment on American Idol truly shows the tactic of Barack Obama's success in marketing himself.

2. Protect and Serve

“There is little chance of ultimate success for a candidate who questions the inherent underlying nobility of U.S. global dominance and/or the need to back American hegemony with a stupendous military budget and a fierce readiness to use military force with or without the approval of ‘the international community.’” (Street)

So don’t even think about being our president if you question the countries arrogance of being powerful. Which I agree with on a certain level because we’ve got to be alert—I’d rather have us in charge then to be under Britain rule again or some other country.

The weird thing is, I can safely say, one of the reasons Obama won the presidency is because he said he was going to remove the troops from Iraq. This hasn't happened yet, so again, it could've just been a campaign marketing tool for more popularity. Or his heavily republican team does not advise him to do anything of the sort, because we need to be protected right?

20% of Americans thought it was the United States responsibility to be the world’s policeman.

3. Go Public

“Remove candidate debates from private media corporations and hand them over to publ

ically funded, publically elected, and publically overseen citizens committees.”(Street)

This would definitely help the media censored programs that we have been learning about this semester. When a large private company is in charge they have more control over what you say because they are funding it—if it’s the public community everyone has a say because its everyone’s funding.

If more people are involved then the moral credibility will most likely grow, it would be a lot harder to hide any immoral acts committed on the trail.

4. Entertaining the Wallflowers

One of Obama's tactics in gaining support from American voters was to target the younger market, my market. Obama made a virtual speech at The Dead reunion show at Pennsylvania Sate college, this is an example of targeting a specific genre of people especially the younger crowd. How cool was that, Obama talking to a bunch of Deadheads? Totally cool, but it was all a part of the game--entertaining and winning the popularity contest.

"Entertainment is the supra-ideology of all discourse on television. No matter what is depicted or from what point of view, the overarching presumption is that it is there for our own amusement and pleasure." (Postman 87)

5. Stolen show

One thing that bothered me throughout the Obama campaign was how 'popular' he became overnight. I mean, he was the first black man to run for presidency and he's young and good looking which definitely worked in his favor. He didn't really work to gather all this fame and stardom, it just happened for him--it was very convenient.

"That's one of the great things about the feed--that you can be supersmart without ever working. Everyone is supersmart now. You can look things up automatic, like science and history, like if you want to know which battles of the Civil War George Washing fought in and shit. It's more now, it's not so much about the educational stuff but more regarding the fact that everything that goes on, goes on on the feed." (Anderson 47)

Nothing is really accomplished unless you've worked really hard for it, if that's not the case, how can you ever really feel accomplished? Relying on someone or something else to do the hard work will eventually catch up to you. For example, now that Obama is president the heat is turned up and he isn't producing many changes.

6. Obama vs. Hillary

This video is an example of how things got a little heated while Hillary and Obama debated for the democratic position. Although Obama was most favorable in the media statistics show that Obama wasn't exactly popular with the lower middle class America. Clinton won West Virginia and Kentucky by whopping margin and anyone in a household making less than $50,000 a year, backed Clinton. Obama really took the democratic position by the skin of his teeth; again it came down to race and gender.

The campaign race between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton definitely got heated. I noticed through research that people running against Hillary bring up what her husband has done in the past, including Obama. It's weird how people still tend to associate a woman, even if she is completely independent, with a man.

"His [Barack Obama] real positions on Iraq, empire (more broadly), health care, energy, and trade might actually be centrist and even in some cases quite conservative, but his rhetoric and image (like those of Hillary Clinton) have been carefully crafted to tell progressively inclined primary voters that he is one of them." (Street 167)

7. Obama is a Democrat, Right?

(Photo embed from google images)

The plan of Obama’s far left change persona was to, according to Street,“divert, capture and safely control current and upcoming rebellions”against the Bush-Cheney regime. The fact that they were already thinking about this during his election.

Obama's democratic change campaign trail definitely shifted once he got into office. He hasn't changed much, our economy continues to suffer, we're still at war and the future isn't looking to promising. It seems like everything is operating similarly to when Bush was in office.

"The success of the hard right and its sponsors in tilting U.S. politics dangerously, "off center" creates understandable hunger for a leader like Obama who promises to heal partisan divisions, overcome ideological and cultural "polarization,"overcome (right-leaning) "gridlock," and rebuild the moderate "center.""(Street 180)

8. Popularity Contest

(Photo embed from google images)

For a lot of voters the choice on who to vote for the democratic spot in the race for presidency, it subconsciously came down to gender and race for a lot of Americans. Corporate media outposts like ABC, CNN and MSNBC explored voter’s decisions and and what they learned was shocking. Voter's couldn’t explain any policy agenda’s that they agreed/disagreed with, mainly just the surface of why they were voting for one or the other. Kind of like—I like him because he’s popular. More and more politics are just reminding me of high school girls bickering about who will be queen bee.

This quote from M.T. Anderson's book, Feed, gives us a small glimpse of how our future could be if we continue to blindly ignore important information before we make decisions, "Now that School(TM) is run by the corporations, it's pretty brag, because it teaches us how the world can be used, like mainly how to use our feed's."(Anderson 109) The kids in Feed have been trained to block out anything that the Feed hasn't directed them on, ultimately being able to control their opinions.

9. Barack Obama's campaign was endorsed by multi-million dollar corporations

(Photo embed from google images)

During President Obama's campaign trail he made it clear to people watching that he did not accept money from corporate lobbyists or PACS. This however was not true, contributer such as Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase and Morgan Stanley overall providing Obama with over $100 million dollars before the primary season.

"Obama claimed he would “turn the page” from big money influence on politics. Yet while he was campaigning the campaign finance laws were changed and he could receive much larger checks then were previously allowed" (Street xxi)

Obama also received money from the corporation known as BP oil. According to an articlefrom politico, "Obama received a total of $77,051 from the oil giant and is the top recipient of BP PAC and individual money over the past 20 years, according to financial disclosure records"

To see top contributers click here.

10. Obama is prom king.

According to Paul Street's book, Barack Obama and the Future of American Politics, a study showed that only 16% of Obama’s media coverage was directed as negative towards him, John Edwards received 36% of negative coverage and Hilary Clinton took the cake with 38%. Not only was Obama the least mocked on the democratic side, but McCain's "attacks" on Obama almost made him look even better.

In this video of a negative attack from John McCain's campaign trail, you will see that he uses the fact that Obama is famous as a downfall. This confuses me because Americans, generally speaking, are extremely swayed by popularity. In McCain's commercial he really highlights the good things about Obama and attempts to pass them off as ridiculous ideas. The fact that Obama's views are very democratic and pro-green towards the environment really gave him a leg up in his campaign for presidency and in this commercial.

(video embed from youtube)

The statistics of negative publicity and this attempt of making fun of Obama really makes me wonder if everyone was almost sucking up to him. I mean it is what people do to get on the good side of someone popular and potentially beneficial to their life. I'm not saying that McCain wanted to be best friends with Obama, that's obvious, I just think he was kind of afraid to get too close to the line. Lot's of insults in the run for presidency could have come off as racist, was McCain taking the easy road to avoid any negative publicity to backfire on himself?

This video taken from CNN dissects the commercial a little deeper...

(video embed from youtube)

"Barack Obama is famous but a lot of people really don't know him"

Media Reflection #3: Phishing in Manchester!

As you've probably heard, Phish is back and better than ever. I got the chance to go see them play LIVE on Tuesday October 26th, 2010 in Manchester, NH, my home state. The last time I had see them was back in June 2010. I attend a lot of live shows, so I was really excited to be back seeing Phish again.

Photo taken by: JP Arenas

I've noticed lately that Phish has been getting more involved with the media. They just switched representation to better their band not only as entertainment, but a successful business. They have been organizing a lot more fundraisers for local businesses and charities. For example they just had a showing of a movie in downtown Burlington at the ROXY for the Water Wheel Foundation, where all proceeds went to local farmers. They're beginning to get more representation like this which ultimately is making their band more popular.

(Video courtesy of Youtube)

Phish also does a really great job with entertainment. The lights, energy and music vibrations can really pull a room together to have a really great experience. This song above was a cover of "After Midnight," originally by J.J. Cale, which really got the crowd going. This first set of the show was a lot of one time crowd pleasers. It was a really special time for my friends and I because it was not only the first Phish show we saw all together, but some of the first times we have ever heard them play these special songs.

I really enjoy seeing Phish live, not only for their music but for the energy that produces through the crowd during the show. You can really feel what everyone else is feeling through the music and its all really because we paid to be there. Phish is dead center in the media that I like to pay attention to and I'm glad because they keep it tasteful and help people throughout their journey.

FEEDING THE RADIO!

Devon: So what seems to be your troubles today miss?

Emily: I can’t keep track of anything! I’ve had almost every cell phone there is, but I am constantly losing them or breaking them! I just can’t keep all the info I need stored in my phone anymore, I need more space or another device!

Devon: You’ve come to the right place. Although the Feed is new, everyone is getting them. I’ve installed so many, it’s going to be setting the standards for how we interact.

Emily: I was worried that if I didn’t get one, I would be left out. Or worse, I wouldn’t be able to get a job.

Devon: You know, employers are going to be looking for this. You’ve made the right choice.

Emily: Its amazing that I can’t have a device that is capable of so much, and not have to hold on to it.

Devon: Yeah it truly is amazing. Communication is just as easy as a thought. Instead of hand-held, it’s brain-held.

Emily: Wow! That sounds amazing, hands free brain held world!

Devon: Just look how happy all of my customers have been!

Kelsey: I never get bored anymore. The entertainment and information is almost endless. I think about the recent baseball scores and they’re there right in front of my eyes. Talk about getting smart while just using the power of your own mind.

Darin: The feed will be available spring of 2011, the hands free brain held technology will allow you to access anything at the speed of your thoughts. Endless amounts of information that was once at your fingertips is now even closer. Shop, share, shop, share and expand your mind with the Feed. Get it now.

CENSORED 2011 STORY #24: War Crimes of General Stanley McChrystal

Essential Facts:

• General McChrystal was formally in charge of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) Has essentially no career record--all classified, including the years between 2003-2008.

• JSOC would be commanded to go into countries without talking to ambassador or CIA chief to find people that were on a "to-be-killed" to be found and executed. This was an ongoing list of people who were cleared by VP Cheney's office that were suspected of committing or going to commit war crimes against the United States.

• There has been many illegal assassinations in over a dozen of countries in the Middle East and Latin America. An executive order signed by President Ford in the 70's which forbid any acts of immoral assassinations; such as targeting lists and sneaking around to fulfill the execution.

• JSOC was also involved in War crimes against prisoners of War. They had "ghost" detention sites that would be used to torture and kill prisoners. The National Red Cross didn't even know where these detention sites were.

• McChrystal was in charge of some of the worst tortures in the war. There was a rule generated towards torture that was, "No Blood, No Foul" which left a wide range of brutal things that could happen to prisoners. For example they would lock prisoners in shipping containers for 24 hours in extreme heats, they would also expose them to extreme cold by soaking them in cold water periodically. They would also bombard prisoners with bright lights and loud music, causing sleep deprivation and receive harsh beatings.

• Seymour Hersh, the writer of the source based on this story, states that even though he has managed to gather information about this story he's the only one that had the persistence to figure out the truth, therefore the government will explicitly tell press that his words are lies. When Obama appointed General McChrystal Hersh says that it is a devastating sign that we are continuing to follow in the Bush administrations footsteps, even if he was fired a year later.

SOME LINKS ABOUT THE STORY:

The Rolling Stone profile on General Stanley McChrystal expresses his hard exterior and lack of respect for other people as his superiors or enemies.

This NY TIMES article on General McChrystal's "resignation" puffs his reputation in to nothing more than a man that has a strong opinion, definitely censored.

This BELFAST TELEGRAPH article states, "McChrystal's retirement marked the last chapter of his swift and stunning fall from grace."

For the amount of crimes McChrystal committed he is definitely censored in the News, probably because the United States Government is embarrassed that they put such an unprofessional person in charge.

SOME FURTHER RESEARCH:

This video taken from youtube shows a news team taking on the coverage of the firing of General McChrystal's comments about VP Biden and President Obama, they are shocked that the "General" was "loose with his lips":

In this video from youtube, they talk about the Rolling Stone article about the, "Runaway General" it's all about him and his big mouth, nothing about tortures:

MIDTERM REFLECTION: MEDIA BY THE THROAT

Kelsey Hanrahan's midterm reflection:

1. After studying media for eight weeks in this class, what have you learned? Please be specific.

I have learned that media is an extremely powerful source in our society. The way information is skewed and used to manipulate totally blows my mind. It's such a huge part of our everyday life that there really is no way around being bombarded with media ploys. I've never really noticed how media is always trying to persuade me. It is a mind control device almost, it really try's to determine your next move for you.

2. What is the most important thing you have learned about yourself as a critical reader, a writer, and a thinker in this class so far?

I've learned that Postman was right about me. Sitting and reading a book really doesn't hold my attention like it used to, unless it is a book that I'm choosing to read on my own. With this class I know I need to read the material or I won't be able to keep up in class, so it has shown me that I am capable with a lot of focus, which can be extremely difficult.

In terms of my thinking, I believe I've started to notice a lot more about media in my day to day life. I've gotten in a lot of conversations about media and how it is shaping the society we live in; wondering how our kids will turn out in the next 20 years. It's really making me look into the future more and trying to decide on how I'm going to cut some of the media garbage out of my life.

3. What's one thing YOU would do differently this first half of the semester if you were to take this class again?

Quit my job so I have more time to concentrate on this class. I feel like I have no time at all. I have passed in some late blog posts just because there's so much going on day to day that I can't keep everything straight. If I could start over, I would be more organized and find more time to concentrate on the important things.

4. What's one thing you would like ME to do differently this first half of semester if you were to take this class again?

Maybe go a little easier on the reading assignments. Even if you give them just another class' worth; like a week and a half instead of just a week. It's just so much to think about when you have a bunch of tasks to do, they get lost in the jumble of everything else then before you know it you need to have a whole book read in 2 days.

5. Please comment on the usefulness of the power tools, our quizzes, the course blog, your personal blog, our films, and our books (AMUSING, FEED, MEDIA/SOCIETY) as learning tools.

POWER TOOLS: Our power tools are super useful because it makes our minds think about the different messages being presented to us by the media. If we didn't know the techniques that they use, it would be that much easier to brain wash us into thinking they we're the way of the word.

OUR QUIZZES: Our quizzes are wonderful because they make us memorize the power tools. Once we can call out the power tools that we see, we will begin to understand the context of the commercial, TV show or news cast.

THE COURSE BLOG: Lot's of work and sometimes I forget about it because its on the internet; I'm not really the best Angel checker or online checker of things. So it's a little forgetful at times, mostly on my part because I try to avoid using the internet as much as I can. But, overall I think it's a good tool because it gives us a chance to see everyone's work and gain ideas and insights from my classmates.

MY PERSONAL BLOG: I like my personal blog, it represents me in the cyber net world, which is cool. I enjoy receiving comments about pictures and other posts I've done it's rewarding in a way.

OUR FILMS: Our films are cool too because it just, yet again, opens up my eyes to the media and how their techniques are really attempting to brain wash us into believing that their word is how things really are. Like REEL BAD ARABS the truths revealed about some of the things our country has portrayed about Arab people when it isn't the truth at all. It's really scary to think that our country is using media to plot masses into thinking that all Arab people are a certain way.

OUR BOOKS: Our books have been pretty cool so far. It's given me a glimpse into what the future may be like if we continue to ignore our power tools and give in to modern media society. It could turn into a crazy mind chip robot run world.

My First Ever Moose Viewing on Spofford Lake, NH

Photo taken by: Kitty Hanrahan, Spofford Lake, NH

Last week I went home for a couple days and on a rainy morning my mom and I saw a moose swimming across the lake that we live on. We jumped in the kayaks to go hang out with him on the island and this is one of the shots my mom took of me looking at him. We named him Charlie.

Clockwork Running FEEDS!: Media Meditation #2

I was searching random movie trailers on youtube and Logan's Run came up. I've heard of this movie before but never knew what it was about. Turns out it is very similar to the book Feed by M.T. Anderson.

Video embedded from youtube:

The crystal in the citizens hands are like the Feed; it controls their happiness and their desires. The crystal in Logan's Run is more based on the fact that all your wildest dreams and fantasies come true just by a thought. You will have the lover of your dreams; you just have to think of it. Feed in a sense is the exact same thing. The people in the book and from what we talked about in class are just seeking the ultimate device to meet all their needs.

In Logan's Run no one is allowed to live past 30 because of population control, when you near 30 years of age the crystal in your hand will deliver you the last and final message of your life then you will die. People become afraid of this, of course, and go on the run. I think Feed can also relate to this because it could have an underlying control on population. How can someone live up to the age of 70 when radiation waves are flowing through their brain every second? Also when Violet attempts to break away from the feed she ends up dying. Both the feed and the crystal have an inevitable control over the human it controls.

Another movie that came to mind that isn't exactly similar but deals with the question of control over civilians... Clockwork Orange:

Video embedded from youtube:

I actually had to watch this movie for another class, Communications and Ethics, and it completely blew my mind. The trailer doesn't exactly show what the movie is about, but the flashing pictures and words give a feel for what your about to embark on.

The movie is a 3 hour description of the highs and lows of the main characters life through control and imprisonment. This movie is a true description of the saying,"Every action has an equal and just reaction."

Clockwork Orange photo of Alex, found on google.

He tortures and rapes people then gets arrested for it. Then goes on to be tortured by the government when they do a series of tests to scare the bad out of him. Then once he goes through treatment which results in him getting sick anytime he has the urge to have a sexual or violent encounter. He is then wronged by all the people that he wronged in the past coming full circle in a round of torture and despair.

In the end of the movie nobody really got what they wanted out of the revenge the so badly desired to achieve. The government fails by curing Alex because the last scene in the movie all the media forced on him and fame for being a survivor of this new governmental technique he goes back to being the same person he always was: a killer and rapist. Or thats the feel the give you.

The struggle for control and power by all three: Feed, Logan's Run and Clockwork Orange tie in together on the simple fact that there will always be someone trying to control and someone resisting.

DEATH: Media Meditation #1

October 7th at Higher Ground, DEATH will be making its first debut performance in VERMONT.

They came on Rocket Shop, The Radiator's local music hour that I host, to talk about their travels around the world.

DEATH @ Higher Ground 10/7/10 : 30sec spot from Howlermano on Vimeo.

Before DEATH came into the studio I wasn't completely sure of their background. I knew they were a rock and roll band originally from Detroit, Michigan and had later moved to Burlington, VT but I didn't know that they had so many connections that I ended remembering them once we started talking.

Photo taken by: Juliette Decree of the Big Heavy Crew

I started asking them a couple questions before the interview because one of my coworkers was going to do the actual interview on air. They formed DEATH in 1974 the members were David, Bobby and Dennis Hackney. The three Hackney boys started their hard rock and roll band in Detroit to an unexpected audience. They became really popular on the underground circuit which spread to the production labels. One of the big labels sought them out and offered them to sign, but they would have to change their name from DEATH to something a little less aggressive. David, the leader of DEATH and the oldest of the three brothers immediately declined.

Back of 1974 album by DEATH

The explanation for them turning down the major label was that their name was their soul. If they changed their name then they would've lost what they stood for. At that time society was very afraid of the word 'death', the major labels were afraid to put such a controversial word as one of their representing bands. These three brothers didn't back down and continued their push on through the music industry as a rock and roll soul pushing band in

the mid 70's.

As we went on in the interview; DEATH explained how their brother David passed away in the early 80's which completely put a stop to DEATH's live shows. The spirit and leader that David held in the group was so strong that they found it very hard to play or listen to any of DEATH's music.

The two remaining brothers went on to play with many different types of musicians and genres. Bobby, the new member, resurfaced DEATH for the love of David. He held the spirit and sound of David that they could not deny. The return of DEATH really shook all of its fans from all over the world. They have lived in Vermont now for 20 years and will be playing their first show in Vermont next Thursday October 7th at Higher Ground.

This interview was one of the most powerful for me because of their story of playing music over the last 40 years. Things have changed dramatically, when they were first starting out the name DEATH wasn't accepted nowadays nobody will even flinch at that type of name. Just like television ads nowadays, 90 percent of what is on television today probably wouldn't have been accepted 40 years ago.

Photo taken by: Juliette Decree of Big Heavy Crew

diving into the black whole of BLOGS!

Hello..... all.

My name is Kelsey Hanrahan. I have lived in Burlington, VERMONT for 5 years now and what a ride it has been; continues to be. I originally grew up in Spofford Lake, NEW HAMPSHIRE until I moved here. My mom and pop still live there, so its nice to go down and remember the good 'ol times while creating new memories as equals. Equals meaning, they don't pay for my existence anymore so we can be friends and hang like friends. I love my parents.

I love music and anything that really has to do with it. I love going to music festivals and meeting new people; making new adventures.

One of my favorite media experiences this summer was hosting Vermont Roots Rock Revival. This was a concert series that my friends and I organized this summer. They played in their bands and I hosted while representing a local radio station: 105.9 FM The Radiator, where I DJ every week. We had 4 dates this summer when we would gather down at Battery Park and 4 bands would play in 3 hours in a celebration of Vermont music. It was a free show and it really became quite a hit by the end of the summer. We even got a review in Seven Days by Dan Bolles. (Who will be on Rocket Shop, my radio show on The Radiator, on September 21st to promote The radiators fundraiser at being held at Nectars on September 24th) It was a grateful moment and rewarding experience.

My least favorite media experience this summer was the fact that I watched so much TV!!! AHHHH. I got into tv shows like U.S. of Tara and continued my obsession with Friends and Roseanne. I really wish I could be one of those people that just doesn't watch tv; but its so entertaining its sick!!! Oh well, I still did a lot of things I wanted to do, I just definitely got caught up in the ridiculousness of TELEVISION.