Don't bother to see...

...A History of Violence, starring Viggo Mortenson. It was awful. It probably ranks among the worst three movies I've ever paid money to see (the other two being AI: Artificial Intelligence and King Arthur). I regret losing the two hours of my life most of all. Sorry Viggo, but even Hidalgo was much better.

NHL ads causing controversy

Story Here. The NHL's new advertising campaign, "my NHL" is causing a stir among women's rights activists.

The first spot, titled "It's Time," shows a player (an actor, not an NHL player) in a locker room, surrounded by candles and accompanied by a woman who ceremoniously helps him don his hockey garb. The ads feature quotes from Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" along with dramatic camera work and music reminiscent of the film "Braveheart."

Burk told The Canadian Press that the ad is "offensive on many levels."

"The woman is dressed provocatively and when she asks the player if he's ready, it's a double-entendre in my view," Burk told The CP. "She's in the ad as a groomer, a sex object.

"The commercial is clearly selling sex and violence and the last image in that commercial is a young boy watching this, so he's clearly the customer they're after, or it's a misguided attempt to draw in families."

Well, I wouldn't say that exactly. While I think the direct comparison between athletes and soldiers is inaccurate and somewhat stupid, I don't think the commercial markets violence, unless you think hockey is naturally violent (and there are those aspects that turn off many viewers). As for the sex, I think modern advertising is so inundated with it that we've become somewhat desensitized. Yes, the woman in the commercial was wearing revealing clothing, but to me, that wasn't the focus of the commercial. She also mentions a double-entendre that I would only pick out if I were looking for it. To me, "Are you ready?" fits more with the ill-conceived comparison of hockey with war, not with any sexual reference. Plus, Burk could pick any one of a million advertisements that objectify women in a more overt or demeaning fashion. Just look any body care product aimed at men (case in point: Axe body wash commercials with the "how dirty boys get clean" slogan). My suggestion to her: Stick to fighting Augusta, where your case will draw my sympathy.

If anything, I don't think the ads will work. Half of what's wrong with the NHL's popularity is characterized by the slogan "my NHL." That's the problem, a lot of hardcore fans (many of them Canadian, but also some from original six cities like Detroit, Chicago, or Boston) have this selfish "it's my game" mentality. These are the people that rag on Atlanta, Nashville, and Carolina for having NHL franchises, and bash Colorado fans for getting a good team from the start. We'll see how this new ad campaign changes this image.

One thing is certain though, the only thing that will save the NHL is the product on the ice.

Dennis Kucinich at GW

Tonight I went to hear Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), former presidential candidate, speak at the Marvin Center Grand Ballroom. I was trying to take advantage of my opportunities and actually go to something like this, even though I have no interest in joining College Dems. One thing appealing about Kucinich is that he isn't a middle of the road democrat (like Kerry or Dean) who criticizes the Bush administration while preaching an ideology that really isn't all that different. I think his views were very insightful and progressive, just the type of candidate that would be needed to give people a clear alternative to Bush neo-conservatism. I especially liked what he had to say about nonviolence, love, and peace (some of which is outlined on his website) His comments about transformation of conciousness, and the progression from thought, to word, to action, all reminded me of the New Thought teaching I was exposed to while growing up. I identify with this type of discussion much more than the culture and conciousness of fear that the Bush administration seems to propogate. Unfortunately, I'm not sure how easily these ideas can breach the closed minds of religious fundamentalism that pervade and pervert much of the society and polity of the modern United States, but one thing is obvious: true change can only come in this country if an opposition candidate (whichever party he or she may be from) is willing to stand apart and offer Americans a bold, progressive alternative from what the last five years have brought us. BTW, if any random blog-lurkers are looking to start a debate, bring it!

A Chili's commercial made me think of this

First, the restaurant industry tries to convince you your own home-cooking isn't good enough. It's bland, it's boring, it's predictable. Why have the same thing night after night when you can go enjoy something fresh and exciting at their restaurant? Funny, cause at the same time their are trying to convince you not to eat at home, they're trying to market "homestyle" cuisine to you. This is an interesting social question.. "Homestlye" is obviously a marketing ploy to draw people who have a nostalgia for the food they grew up with, the question is, has the fast-paced world of today (or alternatively, laziness) caused "home-cooking" to be something only restaurants can offer? Some food for thought...

New Classes

I had my first days of class. Overall, it should be an interesting semester. It looks like most of my work will be spread out over the semester (as opposed to having multiple research papers at the end). I'm taking Creative Writing (ehhh), Spanish 109 - Contemporary Spain (fun so far), Chemistry for Non-Science majors (a joke, but interesting), Intermediate Microeconomics (so far so good), and Beginning Korean (what the hell did I get myself into?).

We'll see how it goes. It's nice not having Friday classes, but the rest of the week is pretty busy.

Looking forward to seeing...

..."Good Night and Good Luck," which comes out on October 7th. It's a film about Edward R. Murrow and his battle with Senator Joseph McCarthy and the House Committee on Un-American Activities. Looks to be a film about civil liberties that has incredible relevance today. The trailer ends with Murrow's famed line, "We cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home," which I happen to have hanging on my wall.