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.