Friday, January 29, 2010

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

iPad, do you? 392


Today marked the historic introduction Apple’s newest brainchild, the iPad. This tablet device is able to use both AT&T’s 3G network as well as wireless Internet to provide books, news, television, music, celebrity gossip, et cetera to the consumer. In an article written two days ago, journalists Brad Stone and Stephanie Clifford of the New York Times reported the concerns of print media nationwide. What are their fears? That the tablet will make downloading and streaming illegal content from the Internet even easier than it already is.

Illegal downloading occurs using a variety of methods, most falling under the category of peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, Napster, for example. In a P2P relationship, there is no distinguishable client or server, just “peers” that are able to share content between multiple computers. To oversimplify, bits of information—most often music—are identified on another computer by a torrent tracker and reassembled on the receiving end of the exchange. P2P file sharing has been a particularly hot topic in the last decade, as the Recording Industry Association of America has been targeting college students (and academic institutions) for committing music piracy. But do they have anything to fear?

In an article titled “Share, Steal, or Buy: A Social Cognitive Perspective of Music Downloading,” Psychologists of Michigan State University, Robert LaRose and Kim Junghyun contend that “downloading appears to be as much a social phenomenon as an economic one.” Their research with college students confirms that downloaders are motivated by the social act of trading and sharing music with other music enthusiasts, making the topic of illegal music downloading one of adolescent cultural perspective (LaRose and Kim). If you care to read the entire quantitative study, see end for link.

The way I have interpreted it, it seems that the trend of illegal music downloading is also an issue of cultural lag, a topic that we have talked about in class. Though they may not explicitly define it this way in the article, they have found that “downloading intentions had no direct relationship to either compact disc purchases or to subscription to online pay music services.” Instead, by comparing their behavior to that of other people—especially those similar in age—researchers have found that they mimic this behavior (of downloading) largely because they believe it to be socially acceptable.

Perhaps the reason the music industry is so adamantly opposed to the idea of file-sharing (for FREE?!) is because of the cultural lag, and the discontinuity of values between generations. We have the technology now to access infinite amounts of content, but many are not ready to accept this change in the way information is being transferred—hence the efforts to put “locks” on media (encryption). And, many music industry personnel are of the generation before my own, that had no other choice but to buy records at full price. But even adolescents struggle with the ethics of illegally downloading. Should it be allowed? Does it actually harm the musician? Why are people resisting? Apple claims that it will encourage users to pay for the material they access online, but there is no way to guarantee this, making media publishers weary of the new iPad. The fact of the matter is that the way we acquire information is changing—becoming more free, and easier—and the print media industries will need to adapt rather than resist. For a long time, concert ticket and t-shirt sales have brought in incredible revenue—more so even than CD sales—and the industry should focus their efforts in marketing this type of media, that cannot be downloaded over the Internet.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/26/technology/26apple.html?pagewanted=2

http://search.ebscohost.com.nuncio.cofc.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=25963255&site=ehost-live

Monday, January 18, 2010

Critical Mass and Collective Action-392

Disclaimer: To my fellow classmates and Dr. Burkett of HONS 392 who will be reading my blog over the course of the semester, this is my personal blog. I welcome you wholeheartedly to read my previous entries, but I should warn you that they can be, at times, opinionated and sometimes crude. I will title each of my entries for this class with the heading “392” in case you do not care to see my other posts. And with that, have at it! :)



Perhaps one of the most powerful political movements in bike culture today is Critical Mass. Critical Mass is an event held in urban centers worldwide, usually on the last Friday of the month, to raise awareness of the unfair (and oftentimes inhumane) treatment of cyclists, and to promote the “share the road” ideology. In a Critical Mass ride, cyclists come together to ride in high-traffic areas (where they’ll receive the most attention) often clogging motorways and preventing automotive commuters from using the roads. Critical Mass was popularized in the early 1990s in San Francisco. The first ride in New York occurred in 1993. Critical Mass is a striking example of how collective action can be used effectively to bring attention to an issue—in this case being the unequal use of motorways.

Using the sociological perspective, the Conflict theory can be imposed on the issue of Critical Mass. Conflict theory holds that social behavior is best understood in terms of conflict or tension between competing groups in society. We can broaden this assumption beyond social “classes” and apply the theory to the automotive community and the bike community. The “conflict” or tension exists in the struggle over scarce resources—the high-traffic roads that cyclists and motorists alike, wish to use.

There is an obvious tension between cyclists and automobile operators. As both a licensed driver and avid cyclist, I have experienced both roles. In a car, bikers are analogous to flies that zip in and out of traffic. They make unexpected turns and occasionally shirk the rules of the road. But as a cyclist, you feel vulnerable and empowered at the same time. Many cyclists ride for fitness and environmental reasons alike, so many feel that they should have equal, if not greater rights to the road because they are fulfilling a greater social responsibility.



But more recently, there has been increased tension between police forces and the bike community—a relationship that was once peaceful. Ever since the Republican National Convention in August 2004, “the relationship between the bicyclists and the police has been ‘antagonistic’” (Barron). On this day, Critical Mass riders voiced radical opposition to the Bush administration as they rode past, and 264 riders were arrested for disorderly conduct. Since then, police forces have tried to convince courts to outlaw Critical Mass protests, but have yet been unsuccessful. They have, however, succeeded in requiring parade permits for groups of 50 or more persons. But will the legislation be successful in preventing chaos and injury? Likely not, since, as New York Times editorial staff contends, police vehicles—scooters, vans unmarked cars and helicopters—race the wrong way on roads and on sidewalks, they pose a greater danger than bicyclists themselves.

The goal of adopting a sociological perspective is to be able to look at larger social “issues” to understand and explain the behavior of individuals on a smaller scale. Because the issue is largely the difference in values between motorists and cyclists, it will be difficult to come to a compromise. Critical Mass riders employ collective action to empower riders worldwide and show motorists that they are not vulnerable (especially not in numbers) and deserve to be treated with respect both on an off roads—this means no cutting off cyclists or driving unnaturally close. In many ways, I feel that Critical Mass has succeeded. If nothing else, three solid pages of headlines pop up when I search “Critical Mass” on the New York Times web browser. When I see article titles such as, “Manhattan: Cyclists Win Case,” “After Judge’s Ruling, Fewer Are Arrested in Mass Bike Ride,” and “Civil Liberty Assails Police Over 2004 Protests,” I can’t help but throw a silent fist-pump for cyclists all over the world. It seems that they are getting the recognition they’ve been riding for.



http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/04/nyregion/04critical.html

Friday, January 15, 2010

But also classy..

I don't think I'll ever see this too many times.




Speaking of...





:))

One Love

There is something incredibly endearing about Phoenix when performed acoustically. Perhaps because they are considered an electronic band (they do, after all, employ electronic drums when in the studio). But that they can supplement their own material with a pure sound (don't pretend you can't hear pre-pubescent voice-cracking in Thomas Mars' vocals), and that Laurent Brancowitz is hot shit, is truly moving.

Phoenix- Lisztomania (Acoustic) from diego mardones on Vimeo.



Phoenix - 1901 - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.



Crysteena-Re: Neon Gold

Credit to Nick McGovern for discovering these beats. Synths made him cream himself, as he informed me.

Step Off, Ray Ban



A friend (Alan) showed these to me a few months back. The entire process seems far more intricate and far less taxing on the environment. But come on, this is Portland we're talking about.

http://shwoodshop.com/gallery.html

Camellia Sinensis

For a couple years now I've been infatuated with tea. Oolong, which is one of the least popular and least researched branches of tea is perhaps the most mysterious. Please familiarize yourself with the model below (you won't be sorry--it's fascinating)

Health benefits? weight loss and youthful skin.


credit: http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/Fall05/hanna/oolong.html


Sechong Oolong (oolong tea)

Organic Sechung Oolong

Sechong Oolong is a nice, slightly mellower alternative to our Wuyi Oolong. This rare and unique oolong from Fuijan Province, China, consists of a 75% oxidized, unrolled charcoal brown leaf with greenish highlights.

A sophisticated dark amber liquor reveals flavors of chrysanthemums and peonies with a spicy-peppery finish. Sechong Oolong is a simply outstanding tea for the health conscious connoisseur.

A little more about Sechong Oolong:

Sechong is a relatively unknown type here in the US and is similar to our Wu Yi rock oolong, but Sechong has a bit of a more laid-back feel and drinking experience. Sechong Oolong holds up well to a second and even third steeping. Sechong tea is noted in a very particular woodsy-spicy-fruity character which unfolds and is unique to this oolong. Sechong Oolong is a great tea for those who like a complex taste and are willing to learn new flavors.

USDA Organic

2.4 oz Tin $12.50 - 34 Servings - 37¢ per cup
4.0 oz Pouch - $16.00 - 56 Servings - 29¢ per cup

Other names: Sechung Oolong, Wu-Long.