Spectacular! Spectacular!

One thing that this school is really bad at is publicity. How many times have you walked by Kogan and smelled food and then found out that there was a really cool event that was happening that you had never heard about? I know I’ve missed a million fun things because I just didn’t know about them. No one stops to read the bulletin boards in their residence halls and the school hasn’t found a better way to disseminate information so clubs and organizations have taken matters into their own hands.
I have class in Phillips hall everyday and every time I walk up to the building my interest is captured. The large, seven story high stairwell is lined, floor to ceiling with windows and everyone on of these windows in occupied by a flyer, poster or printed page. The effect is staggering. A building with such a unique façade would already garner attention but the flyers and posters increase this ten fold. You are immediately struck and drawn in by this interesting collage of color. Although the messages on the pieces of paper are not readable from a distance, the overall effect pulls you in and entices you to approach and take a closer look. The flyers, which promote everything from a Greek fashion shows to a forum on women’s abuse, receive much more attention in this spectacular display than they ever would on their own.

It was hard this past week to turn on the news without hearing about the runaway bride from Georgia. The bride had mysteriously vanished just days before her lavish wedding. She claimed to have been abducted by a Hispanic man and a white woman, after cutting her hair and purchasing bus tickets under an assumed name. Later, revealed that she had simply gotten cold feet. Oddly enough, her fiance still wants to walk down the aisle with her. The families are willing to fogive her as well. The officials are not as nice though. They are looking into suing the bride for the estimated $40,000 to $60,000 cost of searching for her.
It is this sort of press coverage that shows how spectacles can be made of basically any news item. Her disappearance made national headlines and again made headlines when she turned herself in. In my opinion, I"m not really sure if this type of news is necessary to have the amount of coverage it has. Maybe a comment or two is appropriate, but many stations devoted hours upon hours to cover this case. As odd as it may be, I'm sure this woman was not the first bride to run from her wedding. By having this coverage, it changes a regular news item into a grand spectacle.

A year ago, Comedy Central launched a series titled Drawn Together – eight cartoon characters picked to live in a make-believe mansion to have their lives drawn out and constructed by editors, producers and directors… sound familiar? It should, because the series is based on the hit MTV reality show The Real World, and it parodies the lives of seven strangers cast every season to show America “what happens when people stop being polite and start getting REAL.” Although The Real World is presented as a reality show, it is ironically depicted by Drawn Together in an animated but accurate form. The show features eight cartoon characters that fulfill certain stock roles corresponding to certain stock cast members found on every season of The Real World. For example, Princess Clara from the movie Shrek portrays “a princess who grew up in such a protected environment that she is clueless to just how prejudice she is” (Rosenthal par. 8). Princess Clara’s character in seen on other television shows, say for example, Julie the inexperienced, Alabaman from The Real World: New York or coincidentally Julie the naïve, Mormon from The Real World: New Orleans. If this character description does not sound familiar, perhaps th.e “muscle-headed beer-guzzling frat boy” Captain Hero is more recognizable (Rosenthal par. 11); the alpha male character is personified by Ace the charismatic, southern boy from The Real World: Paris, Brad the cocky, daredevil from The Real World: San Diego and Mike the prototypical all-American boy from The Real World: Back to New York. See a pattern?
For the sake of creating a spectacle, the MTV network is actually reinforcing and perpectuating skewed opinions to their audience members. As members continue to watch programming that only showcases certain types of characters, they are more likely to harbor the same opinions found in the show--no matter how stereotypical or skewed they may be. This cultivation of opinions effects people in our age demographic. Perhaps the effects of excess MTV are warping your brain as we speak. Worried? You should be.

On Sunday night, I went to see Kelly Clarkson at DAR Constitution Hall. For a relatively small venue, she took on the show as if she were performing for the Super Bowl Halftime Show. Everything about the concert was a spectacle. Her voice, stage, band, and energy was able to effectively make her fans love her even more and convert non-fans into fans. I went with my roommate, who enjoys some of her songs, but is not a huge fan. When we left, he said it was one of the best concerts he'd been too. Kelly's voice happens to be one of the best out there in the music world today. As hard as it is to accept an American Idol winner as a reputable artist, she is trying to distance herself from the American Idol name and certainly demonstrated this throughout the concert. After seeing her live, it is hard not to respect her as an artist who not only writes songs, but performs them fantastically. No matter what type of music she sings, she is able to connect with the audience. Her band was extremely loud, but somehow the petite blonde was able to sing right over them effortlessly.
The setup of the stage was quite spectacular, too. There was an Indian theme with ornaments hanging from above, lush Indian carpets, and silk pillows of different colors scattered everywhere. The white linen tapestry draped behind the band caught the colors from the lighting in a grand display of lights. Even though the stage was small in comparison to stadium stages, the setup seemed to command some kind of spectacle. Bigger is not always better. As long as the visual elements can attract an audience, there is a potential for spectacle. Even Kelly's simple clothing was able to give her a certain aura that radiated around her. A t-shirt and a flowing hippie skirt, touching just above her bare feet, made her appear as someone who could, again, connect with an audience, yet command them into awe. She didn't need dancers or back-up singers to entertain and because of this, it made the spectacle even more unique.
Even if Kelly is not your type of music (she is usually mislabeled), seeing her on tour is truly and experience. I find that this is true of any musical act. I have been to various concerts where I was unfamiliar with the performers and after seeing them perform, I was an immediate fan. It goes to show that spectacles can truly influence an audience with the proper visual and aesthetic affects.

I love spring, it’s the time when people start to come out of their holes and relax. I knew it was spring when I walked through Kogan Plaza and it was almost filled with students sitting at any place they could. This was the first sign of the spectacle to come, finals. The time of year where teachers pile on work, and students stop sleeping. For some reason the weeks leading up to them seem like a spectacle to me. Everyone is busy with papers, tests, and just plain work in general. Sleep deprivation becomes part of everyone’s life and at the end of it, you never want to see another blue book again. Finals sends all of campus into a sort of disarray as everyone stresses out. This spectacle controls the last two weeks of the semester and nearly shuts down GW. Not even the disappointing IMF/World Bank protests could tame GW like finals do. I’ll be studying my ass off this week and next, one of those people who disappear and study for three days straight.

I recently saw Farenheit 9/11 and it was a big flaming piece of propaganda. The director, Michael Moore, does raise some good points with his movie, but for the most part the facts are twisted around or taken out of context. I like Michael Moore, I thought Bowling for Columbine was a well done movie, but he is pushing the limit with this film. This is an example of a recorded spectacle that I feel loses its meaning because of the extreme bias of the filmmaker. His ethos is destroyed by his prejudice on the subject. I’m not a Bush supporter, but I would’ve liked to see Michael Moore be at least a little more objective in his critique of the Bush administration, far too many times does he present his opinion as facts. Farenheit 9/11 is an example of what can happen with recorded spectacle, it can be edited and chopped so that the truth can be taken out of context, or lead people to believe something that isn’t true. So please Michael Moore, if you want to be taken seriously, you need to look past your own views and only present facts.

Every Monday and Thursday, I don't know about you, but I can't wait until they put out the latest issue of The GW Hatchet. After it hits the newsstands of Foggy Bottom, everywhere you look in the streets, students, faculty, etc. are reading and chatting about the lastest GW news. Personally, I love reading it. Most of the time, there are really good articles and when there aren't a lot of interesting articles, I find my day actually impacted by it. Well, not really, but I am quite perturbed. There is one particular section that my friend and I check every issue: Crime Log. I don't know if anyone else has noticed how funny it is. Some times you can find excellent stories of how stupid people are in general, but more specifically, how stupid they are when they are drunk. You can always find a great Friday-night-in-Thurston story.
Another great thing about the Hatchet is the ability to read it during class. It's small and compact size allows a student to stealthily read it cover to cover and do the crossword puzzle if they wanted to without a teacher noticing. It becomes great reading material especially during those long, boring classes. For me, it's become my textbook for Poli Sci. And I know I'm not the only one. The Hatchet provides us with so much news of our community, which is a great thing, but it's very interesting to see how a simple college newspaper has turned into such a spectacle. And it's not like something at GW to avoid becoming spectacle. Leave it to GW to put its newspaper on the same rack or sometimes above The New York Times, The Washington Post, and USA Today...

I have both piercings and tattoos. Four tattoos to be exact and at times nine piercings in all. I love my piercings and even more love my tattoos. For me, they are an outward expression of who I am inwardly. I think they are beautiful and physically enhancing. Does that make me a rebel, a deviant, a criminal? When you see someone walking down the sidewalk with arms covered in ink and face filled with metal do you give them a wide birth or cross the street? Why is this? Tattoos and piercings, in the US, have long been associated with the uneducated, the poor and the criminal. Many dining establishments and other business have rules for their employees against visible tattoos and piercings, especially on males. I am an upper middleclass, educated white male (yes, unfortunately in our society these are advantages in the job market) who may be more qualified for a job than others but might be turned down because of my body modifications. The spectacle of body modification has been misinterpreted for a long time. Tattoos, which began with sailors and inmates, have now migrated into the public and piercings have become almost as commonplace as died hair. So why does the stigma of bodmod remain? Body modification has become a false spectacle, a misread message. People no longer get tattoos and piercings solely to signify their membership in a gang, rebellion against their parents or time spent in prison. This view has persisted although more and more "regular" people are getting pierced and tattooed. How many college girls do you know who have butterflies on their butts and pierced belly buttons. How many frat boys have "strength" in chinese on their shoulder?

Picket signs, hippie college students, and screaming protesters have been surrounding one college campus for a whole month. This may sound like UC Berkeley in the 1960’s, however this scene is describing the University of Puerto Rico. Classes have been canceled for the past month and the students of this university are protesting against a tuition raise that would be enacted in the coming semester. The students are asking the administration of this publicly funded university to lower tuition as well as upgrade many of the campuses facilities. This may sound like an absurd demand, yet the president of the university recently renovated his office for an estimated $10 million. This is the justification for the strike, however the students are hurting themselves more since classes are said to be extended into June.
The students who have been protesting are trying to gain power within the universities bureaucratic system. Since most Puerto Ricans go to the UPR, the strike has received wide attention and support as well as resistance. Moreover, when students wearing ripped jeans, flip-flops and dreadlocks tied a chain around the gates of the university more people began to take notice. This spectacle actively appealed to those in favor of independence for the island as well as those against capitalism and bureaucracy. The producers of this demonstration are asserting their democratic rights. This assertion is the underlying logic behind this scene, and it shows other union groups that they too have the right to free speech and protest in order to receive the benefits that they want. This strike still continues, although hopefully it will come to a conclusion soon.

iPods have certainly become a spectacle on college campuses. If you walk around the GW campus while everyone is going to classes, you are guaranteed to see an overwhelming amount of students walking around with headphones in their ears listening to music from their fancy ipods. iPod zombies seem to have taken over our campus. Don't get me wrong; I think they are great. I wanted one for a long time until I was convinced by my brother that they have some flaws. Consequently, I got a different mp3 player that has feature that the iPods do not have and acts like an external hardrive rather than "mating" with only one computer. Am I trying not to join the iPod spectacle, or just making a different spectacle of myself. Either way I have to admit that the ipod software is definitely more user friendly, and the spectacle they are creating is making them more popular than ever. I find myself defending my purchase choice against iPod owners. My iRiver can do this and your iPod can't. Why am I so bothered by this iPod spectacle when I wanted to be part of it at one point? I do not think iRivers will ever take their place, but why not dare to be a little rebellious? I guess I will just continue to make my small spectacle everyday by walking around with a black mp3 player instead of the standard white. Listening to music while walking just makes it a little easier to leave your room and walk into that classroom.

When I discover a new band I like, I cannot wait to go see one of their shows. Even if you've been listening to a band for years, once you see them live your opinion can change very quickly. I have not been able to go to as many shows and I would have liked to throughout this first year of college, but when I finally do I realize why I miss it so much. The crowd is packed in so tight you cannot move. You can hardly breathe. That kid's shaggy hair has beads of sweat hanging off the loose ends. No one likes it when those sweat beads start splashing all over your face. You have to be constantly on the lookout for people about to come crashing down onto your head. This may not sound like a good time to many people, but once the music starts it does not even matter. Jumping and singing at a wonderful, spectacular performance can completely reinforce your love and continued support for a band. I was certainly impressed last friday when I got to see Fall Out Boy, Silvertein, and Gym Class Heroes for the first time.
However, a boring performance can make you lose interest in a band pretty quickly. The spectacle does not have to involve a great deal of fancy special effects. A lively band that can engage their audience with their music and stage presence is all that is needed to make a rewarding concert experience. I know I was disappointed when I finally got to see Coheed and Cambria for the first time. The lead singer did not move from his microphone stand once. A band I used to love is rarely listened to by me anymore. The spectacle of a band's concert can certainly make or break a band's career.

Today I watched an interesting French movie titled La Veuve de Saint-Pierre. It was about a man who, while drunk, semi-accidentally killed a man and was sentenced to death by guillotine. This got me to thinking about public executions and how they are obvious spectacles. The last public execution in the US was in 1936 and they now occur in private. The only public executions that most people are familiar with are those that have been portrayed in the movies or popular culture: William Wallace, Joan of Arc, Jesus. These executions, now, can be attributed to martyrdom, but I want to focus on the majority of public executions where criminals were killed in front of an audience. These killings can be likened very closely to the original spectacles in the Coliseum. Crowds gathered to watch the death of people at the hands of an empire/government. On the surface level, public executions were a way to deter crime, a way to say, “hey, look what will happen to you!” but on a deeper level they emphasize the ultimate power of the empire/government over the lives of their citizens. Public executions are a way to reinforce the authority of the governing body, as were the thumbs up/thumbs down decisions of the emperor at the Roman Games. It can be argued that public executions were, as well, a way for group catharsis, as we discussed earlier in the year, but the main reason, I believe, was the underlining of the government’s ultimate power over your life. “THIS COULD BE YOU” is what a public execution blares and do you really want to be the one standing on the trapdoor of the gallows?

There is one spectacle that I look forward to every week. That spectacle starts thursday night at 8 pm. Sometimes I am practically planning my day around it. If your a fan of this particular television show, you probably already know what I am talking about. This spectacular show is none other than "The OC. Virtually everyone our age has heard of the show (and don't lie, you have definitely watched at least one episode). It's our generation's "90210," and what girl cannot get enough of Seth Cohen?
However, last thursday, my roommates and I sat waiting for our favorite hour of television. Unfortunately, we were all dissappointed to see a fox news special report. So great! We are expecting Seth, Ryan, Marissa, and Summer and guess what we got... our stupid President holding only his fourth prime time news conference throughout his entire administration. At first, we thought perhaps something important had occurred... there has to be a good reason to prevent the OC from airing, but no. No big news, just the same stuff we have been hearing the President talk about for months. My favorite television spectacle was replaced by a spectacle that is nothing new and certainly not captivating. Why could Bush hold his little conference an hour earlier! This is no way to convince any teenagers or young adults to like his policies.

I have going running around DC since the beginning of last semester; however, it was only last week that I finally realized how beautiful this city truly is. As I jogged along my normal route on 17th street I came to the World War Two Memorial--a monument that I saw at least a couple of times a week for the past couple of months. However, as I jogged to the other side of the memorial, I slowly tilted my head to the right and caught a glimpse of one of the most perfect reflections I had ever seen. The sun had just peeked out beyond the clouds and was shinning its rays down on the reflection pool. The reflection shot up from the pool and hit both the World War Two Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial making them both glissen in the sunlight. I was breathtaken. It was at that moment that I realized that, while most cities like New York and Chicago, are beautiful because of their neon lights and busy streets, this city is beautiful because it is effortless. It isn't filled with all the New York hustle and bustle or the fancy lights of Boston or Chiacgo, but is just the opposite. It is calm and serene and even though it lacks those everyday spectacles that characterize most cities, it has everyday spectacular showings of its own. Ones that are orchestrated by the most famous spectacle producer of all: mother nature.

GW is a permanent and powerful neighbor to the residents of Foggy Bottom. We have been in the area over 90 years now according to the flags that line our streets, and we expand our presence here in George Washington each and every year. There is a certain resident in our neighborhood who lives on 22nd and I who refers to GW as the "Imperial Universit". It is hard not to notice his little display of a newspaper or magazine article discussing the University's takeover of Foggy Bottom. Clearly GW's presence in Foggy Bottom is a spectacle, especially to the residents that live here. I can imagine the annoyance of living with thousands of young college students, especially on the weekends. The bigger question is what should be GW's role in the community? Is it ethical for the University to continue to buy property causing more and more residents to move out. I personally beleive that GW should try to accomodate the residents of Foggy Bottom more, but at the same time, we should continue to expand the University and make the school a better place to go and live.

Did anyone else catch last Sunday’s rally for the Bush administrations Judges? I turn on my TV and see priests, ministers, and politicians addressing a crowd of devout Christians. The message was clear, anyone who disagreed with these appointments was doing so solely because of religion and that to do so was to oppress Christianity. The program was filled with televangelists and it is no surprise that the spectacle contained similar sets, props and lighting as many televangelist shows. Also similar was the rapt expression of faith on the audiences faces. What is it about combining politics, religion and spectacle that captivates the audience like that?
I think it is the way religion (basically the center of someone’s personal life) and politics (the center of a social life) seem to influence every aspect of life. The topic is naturally important to people so they are more inclined to listen. Add spectacle into the equation and it is no wonder people did not listen, but rather inhaled the message at last Sunday’s judicial rally.

I think it may be safe to say that blogging has become a spectacle. Wonkette.com spawned out of a blog that was created by someone who worked on the Hill and slept with many important people and posted it online, now her website gets thousands of hits a day. There are blogs that act as the everyday People Magazine, and countless political blogs. Almost everyone I know has a blog. Does this mean that blogs have become a spectacle? I believe so. Not necessarily because they have become increasingly popular, but because of their implications for the audience. For many people checking blogs has become an occurrence as frequent as checking away messages. Many blogs get out of control when because of anonymity people start controversy by commenting inappropriately on people's lives. Look at Rosie O'Donnell's blog on rosie.com. Every post she makes gets at least one negative comment about her lifestyle. This stirs up controversy and now even the media is involved. I have seen many references to Rosie's blog in newspapers lately. There is also talk on if blogging as a newssource is legitimate. Where is the credibility? All of this controversy and this popularity has created a spectacle behind blogging. One cannot create a blog simply for personal reasons anymore, it is now seen as a way to show off to the world, or even to create pity for oneself. I am interested in why people have created blogs. Do you believe blogging has become a spectacle?

In today's fast-paced tech world, every company is trying to beat competitors with new, flashy products. I have found that so many corporations flood the market with upcoming product details and specs long before the products can be purchased. This seems like a very good trick to appear ahead of the competition and boost the company image. It also allows ample time for the product to be hyped up and information to be circulated. I believe that this technique actually can impair the sales of merchandise because those looking to buy keep looking ahead at the next generation and may choose to wait. I would think that this creates a cycle where a potential buyer may significantly delay a purchase. Let's say John wants a digital camera - he wants Company A's camera (available now), but he hears about one coming out from Company B with more features for the same price. He chooses to wait until he can get Company B's. By the time B hits the market, Company A has a new digicam scheduled for release in a month. What is John to do?
Apple Computer seems to break this 'rush to market' attitude. Renowned for being extremely secretive about major product releases, the company always makes a big splash when it does release something. This can actually generate more sales because the product is able to be purchased while demand and interest is high. I would argue that Apple has a great strategy for bringing products to market... maybe it wouldn't work well with other companies, but I think it's part of what makes Apple so special.

On Easter Sunday, several of my friends and I had accidentally slept too late to go to the church services we were planning to attend. My friend, Drea, who is a devout Catholic (I am Protestant-ish) was frantically trying to find a church service she could go to, and as late as possible (because she wanted me to go with her and I had a dinner to attend at 4:00pm that day). So, we found a service at 6:00pm, which was perfect, but there was one catch, it was all in Spanish. While I was hesitant about going to a Catholic church, we ended up having the time of our lives at this church service. The way this church celebrated Easter was quite a spectacle! It was like a southern-baptist church gone hispanic-catholic. There was a band of musicians; guitars, percussian, tamberines, etc, and lots of upbeat singing involved. I'm a fan of peppy spanish songs! The sermon was very responsive, "Jesus Christo vivo o muerto?" "Vivo!" etc etc. I find that much of the decor of churches add to the spectacle element of the services. The alters adorned in candles, and the stained glass windows, and the enormous cathedral cielings, much of the experience is visual and grandeur. My experience on Easter Sunday, however, was truly spectacular.

“You have two minutes to conclude,” the moderator informed candidate Ryan “Lex” Luther. And with that, Luther stood up and proclaimed, “Don't vote for me! Vote for my good friend and fellow presidential candidate Ben Traverse!” Endorsing opposing candidates was just one of many stunts performed at the George Washington University's Student Association's (SA) Presidential debates. Political debates of any kind are often spectacle: each candidate puts on a façade to present to the public the image they wish to portray. In the Student Association debates at GW, the message to the audience was clear, “Vote for me, I'm the best, smartest, funniest,” or even, “the worst candidate!”
Luther was one of the candidates who were considered to be “Joke Candidates” in the SA races. His counterpart, Henry Roosevelt, appealed to the audience's sense of humor, winning votes through entertainment. He used the two-hour debate setting and turned his 45 seconds for answers into a stand-up routine. As part of the comedy act, Roosevelt, being a relatively good-looking guy, turned to the sensual side of the audience. He made a point of standing out from the rest of the candidates, beginning with what he wore. Roosevelt wore a pink suit jacket, yellow dress shirt, and a pink-striped tie. In addition, he wore a winter hat on his head. Slowly, throughout the debate, he undressed. First, the hat went, but that was hardly noticeable. At one point he publicly threw off his suit jacket, saying, “There's too much formality in the SA, why can't we just relax?” And then, a little more discretely, he begun untying his tie, and after awhile, he started loosening his shirt buttons. At this point he probably won over some female votes, and perhaps even the gay population. When it came time for the two minute concluding speeches, Roosevelt stripped his clothes and danced around the stage in his crew uniform. He was singing and promoting his theme of “GW just needs to relax!” He even jumped off the stage and ran to the video cameras, putting his face against the screen, to give those watching at home a closer look. The vast majority of GW students who consider themselves the “political junkies” of the school, disapproved of Henry Roosevelt's lack of seriousness and disregard for the SA regulations. But he entertained and even impressed many of the audience members, who otherwise would have grown weary of boredom from the other candidates. Unfortunately, these audience members already had their loyalties. But Roosevelt may have reached a few apathetic voters watching on television, who like Roosevelt, were sick of the ridiculousness of the SA. Roosevelt's purpose of running was not to earn the title of school president, but rather, to make fun of the entire process of student government elections. Henry's satiric approach was successful in proving a point, and winning him a few admirers, which is exactly what he intended.

As the semester ends, it's that time of year when all of the sororities and fraternities on campus have their formal dances. Just last weekend, I attended my own sorority formal. Everyone has been talking about it since the beginning of the semester as if it was the best thing that happens on campus. I even found myself getting excited as the day came closer. I bought a new dress, got my nails done, and found (in my humble opinion) the perfect date. The night was a great success! All my sisters came out in their beautiful dresses, ate delicious gormet food, and danced the night away under a romantically-lit outdoor tent. Silly, right? Why is it that intelligent college students still get excited over such a seemingly frivolous spectacle? In high school, prom was THE thing to look forward to senior year (I didn't have a junior prom). Why do people love getting dressed up and going out for a special occasion? What makes this spectacle so appealing?

Before the dance, a group of friends and I went to Georgetown to have dinner. Walking along M Street, we drew lots of stares in our spectacular formal attire. When a group of girls came up to me and told me how much they loved my dress, I was delighted. I think no matter our age, people love to feel like they're special. Even if it's just for one night, acting like a princess/movie star/socialite is an entertaining and confidence-boosting experience. It may be silly, but everyone deserves a night to feel special. I can't wait to do this again next year!!

I can't remember a year where the first round of the NBA playoffs have been so good. Even though the two largest market teams, the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers, didn't make the playoffs the atmosphere and mood of this season's quest for the championship have been above average. The games that have been played so far have shown the domination of the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference and the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference and has created a certain excitement for all of these smaller market teams. Both Phoenix and Miami are not the premier franchises in NBA history, which is definately helping garner more interest in the playoffs this year. The Lakers, who have won three championships in the last five years are a great franchise and it's helping the NBA that they are sitting out the playoffs this year. The fact that all these smaller market teams are rising up and becoming great create interest from those cities and are just adding to the spectacle that's beginning to grow. Although my 76ers are probably going to be knocked out by the Pistons, I'm still excited to watch all of these new awesome teams that have proven themselves and are ready to compete in the playoffs.

I live across the street from a fire station. Now, sirens create a spectacle. They catch people's attention so they get out of the way and the fire truck can get to the fire quicker. I'm disgusted when I see people and cars continue on their way without moving when a fire truck has its lights and sirens on. However, being that I live near the station, I constantly hear and see these trucks. Everyone always looks to see what is going on when the big red truck is flashing its lights. What I have a problem with, however, is the need for these firemen to turn on the lights and sirens on their way BACK. Why do they need to stop traffic when there is no fire?? Why are they creating an unnecessary spectacle? 10 days until summer and unnecessary interuptions in my sleep!

The other afternoon I was running near the Holocaust Museum, and as I turned toward the mall I saw a man being arrested. The female police officer threw the man onto the sidewalk. She was screaming and cursing at him while she threw the man onto the sidewalk. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing, get your ass down on the ground,” she yelled as she slammed his head against the pavement. I stopped running and stood there watching the action unfold. Why was I mesmerized by this scene? I was obviously not the only one intrigued, and found myself standing with a crowd of tourists. The man did not seem to be resisting arrest, so why was this officer making such a spectacle about handcuffing him? I thought about it and realized that it was because she was female. She was flaunting her dominance over a male. She wanted to show power and fearlessness. Two female tourists wearing matching oversized pink DC sweatshirts, white jeans and cream colored Keds sneakers, cheered the female officer on. I was shocked; however they seemed to be proud of this woman for exerting her strength and power.
The hidden logic of this officer’s action was to show that women are just as powerful as any male officer. It appeared as if the officer strategically placed this arrest so that it could be viewed by as many people as possible. The officer seemed to draw in quite the crowd, and clearly received support from some of the audience. Overall, this was a spectacle that was used to show off power.

Now is the time of year for the tourists to pack the metros, eat at Sissex, and take over the city. While I was once apart of this (when visting with my family), I must say the abundence of "CIA" and "FBI" shirts scare me to some extent. It is ludacris to see a family of four walking around with shirts that are two sizes too big for them. Last weekend I went to the Air and Space museum with friends to chekc out one of DC's great free museums. On the way, we ran into a middle school tour group. They were the most obnoxious kids--running aound the metro screaming and ranting. While most GW students complain of tourists, it is good to take a minute and reflect upon how all of us were tourists at some point. After all, the spectacle of tour groups makes you apprechiate the fact that you actually reside in the city during the school year. Just next time--someone let them know the metro rule is "stay to the right, pass on the left."

As I sat down to watch the dvd collection season fourteen of my favorite show, Law and Order, I began to ponder the fact that this show is a spectacle. A spectacle is first seen wthin the first five minutes of the show, right before the theme song. Usually a padestrian is walking and notices a dead body or injured person somewhere. This is the spectacle of gore to the audience watching--since it appears so realistic! Next, the theme song comes on, with the signature music--do do do do do do..dodo..no matter where you are, you know the music. After the theme song finishes and the episode begins again, the whole story unfolds. Detectives like Dennis Farina (who I met in a store in NYC) search for clues and interview some of the most interesting people in the city. After the case is solved, then usually a trial occurs. District Attorney Sam Waterston is responsible for bringing justice to usually a complex case. If this is not enough spectacle for you, consider the fact that there are no four Law and Order's: Law and Order, Law and Order: SVU, Law and Order: Criminal Intent, and Law and Order: Trial By Jury. Now spectacle can be seen a dozen times a day--and on reruns on TNT!

Working in retail at times can be one of the most horrible experiences of your life. There is nothing more of a spectacle than waiting on a line of people stretched outside of the door and around the corner in Pentagon City. I currently work at the Electronic Boutique within the mall and let me tell you, we are constantly busy, 100% of the time, never a moments rest. We get all sorts of random people in a store, and I have met many people who quite frankly, were insane. Working in retail can be extremely demanding, people expect things quick, efficent, and done well, and they want it all done NOW. If we don't have a particular item a customer is looking for, I've had some customers literally flip out in rage and start screaming. I've been yelled at, cursed at, called names, and withstood a lot of torture from different customers and it has never been pleasant. People feel that just because they are spending money at a store that they can do whatever they want to a sales associate and get away with it, and the sad part is that they normally can. The store can truly be a spectacle, and it is shocking that I see such rudeness and overall lack of humanity in some people on a daily basis.

It has recently come to my attention that today no television show is more of a spectacle than Fox's hit series 24. Every week the show offers more intriguing plotlines, dramatic cliffhangers, and of course the biggest badass on the planet, Jack Bauer. Kiefer Sutherland plays Jack and is perfect for the role. For all of you who are not familiar with the format of the show, Jack works at CTU (counter terrorism unit) in Los Angeles. Each season is 24 hours long and every episode is one hour that is done in real-time, which basically means that everything shown in the show is actually during that time period, which means we never get to see anything else that happens at the same time as what is currently on screen. 24 is the most spectacular show I have ever seen, every season there are incredible and epic story lines full of terrorist plots, political intrigue, and amazing action. There is always a dramatic threat to the nation, and always on a massive scale, nuclear bomb detonations, presidential assasination attempts (THREE TIMES!), virus outbreaks, nuclear power plant meltdowns, plane crashes (twice, one was Air Force One), train crashes, and tons of awesome twists and turns. No one is who they seem on 24 and you never know what will happen next. The show is fairly poltical as well, and it usually is very conservative, which is not really surprising coming from Fox. Although the show does have mass appeal, and perhaps this type of show really does ignite a spark with people in today's post 9/11 world where terrorism is much more on people's minds.

P.S. I do not work for Fox, I am merely stating the correct fact that 24 is the best thing to be on television in the history of television.

Everyday as I ride on the shuttle back to Mt. Vernon, I stare out of the window and see bridges, roofs, and buildings with colorful displays of spray paint, some of which contain some rather colorful messages. "F*ck the Gov't" is one of my favorites. Then of course there's your classic "so and so loves so and so" surrounded by a giant heart and "so and so was here." Oh, let's not forget the ever-popular "BORF." Does this spectaular display of colorful graffiti represent art or is it just another example of vandalism? You will always find it on busy streets and highways in high traffic, heavily traveled areas to ensure that its message, whatever it may be, reaches throngs of people everyday. I always wondered if these people with their cans of spray paint realized that they were making their city look rundown but perhaps they were just trying to get their voices heard through "art." Some graffiti can be more artistic than others (I don't think "F*ck the Gov't" counts) but drawing on the side of a building instead of a canvas is still art. I think it all depends on how you look at it.

If you stayed on the elevator in Thurston from 1:00am-5:00am on a Thursday or Saturday night, you would be in for quite a show. Every weekend, tons of thurstonians get completely plastered and act like complete asses. They scream and laugh and grope and fall all over themselves. However, in the elevator is where the real show is. Not only would you see just about everyone who pre-gamed and went out, but you also see some unsavory acts. The next morning of these drunken nights the elevators often have urine or vomit, remaining from the previous night. The reason for these spectacles- for the intoxicated's own entertainment. They do not do it for the masses' amusement, but because they find absolutely everything thrilling, even gross and inappropriate things. What I will from now on label as the "drunk spectacle" is really enthralling and fascinating. With all inhibitions gone, the Thurston drunks are like people released from their superego. For the opportunity to see people's id acting out, I suggest taking a ride in the Thurston elevator this weekend for the ultimate "drunk spectacle"!

Sometimes it is truly amazing how much spectacle can be caused by just a few words. Last Tuesday, longtime University of Oklahoma baseball coach Larry Cochella was describing his new freshman outfielder to ESPN's news team. Cochelle praised the freshman (an African American) for staying in school saying, "There’s no n----- in him." ESPN immediately notified the Athletic Director and President of UO. Today, Cochelle resigned amidst a storm of criticism and media spectacle. Though the freshman in question released a statement saying that Cochelle should not have resigned, he still was released from his position.
In today's world, there is clearly no place for such racially insensitive terminology coming from a major university. The media spectacle that ensued served in bringing the incident to light and ensuring that proper action was taken to diffuse the situation. Without such a spectacle, the incident could easily have escalated as the University was gradually pitted against its minority students. However, because the incident was brought to public attention so quickly, the administration and Cochelle took appropriate action to insure that the spectacle remained only in the news.

As an avid theater-goer I attended a matinee of the show Dirty Rotten Scoundrels over spring break. I noticed that their marketing program fits perfectly with their show and the show's motto: "get taken." They had a special on QVC entirely dedicated to promoting the show. Last week they gave away free cds signed by the cast. There is a promotion to give away 50,000 of their cds to fans over the course of this month. I am amazed with the lengths this show will go to make money. The cd giveaway attracted thousands of people who lined up around the block. This spectacle is quite amazing. Why not give away free cds to passersby? This is a perfect way to get songs in people's heads and get them to come see the show. The show on QVC consisted of such spectacular people as Joan Rivers. This reached an audience of people who I'm sure would not normally be exposed to broadway. While the producers of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels are creating a spectacle around the show, it seems to be working. The show is generating a lot of buzz and attendance is high. This marketing blitz has actually created a positive effect using the normally negative spectacle.

So it’s everyone's favorite time of year again and throughout GW people everywhere are studying, relaxing in preparation to for studying, and fulfilling the time honored tradition of the nervous breakdown. This spectacle of college can take many forms. There is the shell shocked student who has had too many energy drinks to truly know where they are but they are pretty sure that the Assyrian army invaded the UN to bring Romeo and Juliet together. They can be easily recognized by the shaking, pale face, sunken eyes and the ability to jump 10 feet in the air at the slightest noise. My favorite form of mental collapse is actually the flip out. In this instance the student will cease to be a coherent individual and probably need a translator. Books will be thrown, tears will be shed and incoherent rants will be screamed loud enough to bring the Secret Service. This truly spectacular event serves to let all who see know that this person has too much work to do. Of course these poor souls will probably not garner much sympathy as they are surrounded by people no more than a few readings away from the edge themselves.
The key to spotting a potential nervous collapse is simple. Listen for someone explaining how much work they have. Once you hear this, wait and see if they say the same thing to the next person. If you get three in a row, stay put. You've found your mark. Sit back, relax and wait for the fireworks.

Eric Ashcroft

How many of us have walked out of our dorms at 8 in the morning all bundled up, only to find ourselves sweating as we are walking back to our dorms after two classes? It is normal for the temperature to be cooler in the morning and get warmer as the day goes on. But what is it with 65 degrees and sunny one minute, to 45 degrees, overcast, and raining another, and back again to sunny a half hour later. The effect of this ever changing weather is reflected in a spectacular range of style's by the student body. There are some people who are caught in a skirt and t-shirt, while others are more well-equiped with a hoodie and jeans. The GW solution to the confused weather seems to be the oh-so-amazing, Ugg and mini combination. Since when is wearing sheepskin boots and denim mini skirt that goes 1/4 of the way down your thigh considered fashionable? Since, I came to GW apparently. But when you really stop to think about it maybe it make sense. I mean, they have warm feet when the rain comes, but when the sun comes out they're ready with a skirt. Intelligent...perhaps. What do you think of this fashion statement? Practical or gaudy?

It seems that sporting events in America have become one of the biggest spectacles around. I recently went to a Nationals game, and I had forgotten how every step of the event is quite the scene. First there are the hundreds of venders that are outside as well as inside the stadium, it is impossible to avoid the yelling of "hats for $10" over hear, and "soda and pretzels" over there. Then there are the people waiting on line who don't seem to realize that everyone else on line is also waiting, and they insist upon yelling at the cashiers who are moving as fast as they can, and complaining about anything and everything possible. Once you've finally made it to your seat there is the usually amusing spectacle of the fans. Some come adorned head to toe in there teams apparel while others don't wear much but paint themselves in their teams colors. The game proceeds with chants, yells, and boos after many of the calls, and ends with a huge cheer when one (and hopefully your) team wins. So why have sports become such a huge spectacle? Perhaps Americans not only love the game but love having a specific team to root for and love becoming part of the spectacle? Whatever the reason it's easy to see when attending a baseball game, that it is America's Pastime.

Please note: This post is backdated to Mid-March, when I couldn't get it to post for some reason.

Every night, a UPD officer passes by my door during his or her rounds of Mitchell. On the days I am sprawled in the hall with my friends, our legs bridging the narrow width of the hallway, we all smile and wave at officer passing by. Why wouldn’t we? The UPD officers are people, just like us. They keep us safe, making sure no really strange creepy people are hanging around, etc, etc. Usually a CF or two will come by during the night as well, doing rounds.

Yet tonight, the entire dynamic changed. UPD Officers searched my neighbor’s room, along with CFs from other floors in the building. We all watched nervously, knowing what was there to be found and yet hoping futilely that it wouldn’t be. But what struck me about this strange spectacle was not the activity itself. It was the attitudes of the officers and CFs. The officers were openly condecedning and rude, laughing at my neighbor as she struggled not to cry while sitting in the hallway outside her door. These were the people I trust to walk the halls, not in an attempt to sniff out any telling odors, but to keep the ‘real world’ from infringing too much on my quiet, peaceful dormitory existence, such as it is. The reactions of CFs were even worse because they were like friends. In the months between moving in and this night, I had forgotten that the CFs were CFs… instead, they were interesting people who wandered the halls and gave out hippobucks if I left my door open while studying. But tonight they were all CF, concealing their scorn only enough to keep their positions businesslike.

What does this kind of spectacle do? It certainly didn’t make me trust the UPD Officers, make me think they would respect me as another living, breathing human being. It made me think twice about befriending a CF who might turn on a dime to turn me in... a CF who, as a friend, could help me through any real issues I might encounter in a way that someone I simply said ‘hello’ to as I passed in the hall never could. While I don’t support what my neighbor was doing, I have to say that I expected more professionalism from the UPD officers, and at least the courtesy of understanding the situation to be supremely frightening to my neighbor from the CFs… our fellow students, after all.

There is one spectacle that unites two of the must spectacular professions of the media and of politics; the White House Correspondent's Dinner. This event serves to bridge the gap between the President and the media. However, the event has become quite a circus. The ringleader this year? Laura Bush. The First Lady cut off her husband's speech to make a few comments of her own. According to the New York Times, the First Lady notable called herself a "Desperate Housewife" and openly made fun of her husband for going to bed too early. "George, if you really want to end tyranny in the world, you're going to have to stay up later" was one of her funny quips. What makes this DInner a spectacle is the amount of news it generates. Apparently the media loves itself. Who knew? Major headlines on nytimes.com and cnn.com mention the First Lady's attempt at stand-up. Most fail to mention the writer of the jokes. Personally, I'm going to stir up some controversy here and say that I find it funny that the Bush Administration was able to use the media at an event honoring the media for their White House coverage for pure political gain. Granted the President doesn't have to worry about reelection but the dominance of this story today shows that he still has the ability to get the attention of the public. Now maybe his polling numbers on social security will change. Or not.

I have been working at the Natural History museum and have started dreading my walk accross the mall there and then my trip down to the cafeteria for lunch. Why? Tourists. Yes, they are supposed to be there and that is the point of the museum to attract tourists. But for some reason a large gathering of thousands of normal people lost and confused, stopping randomly to take pictures of random things drives me up the wall, I literally start to twitch. I feel like a hipocrite (sp?) because I have been a tourist myself in several places. However, Atlanta is not a huge tourist city and I do not live anywhere near a tourist attraction so being surrounded is a new feeling for me. I feel bad, I do, these are just normal people taking a trip to their Nation's capitol, but they drive me up the wall! It is definatly spectacular to see such a mass gathering of tourists, all in awe and confused all at once. Another thing I have noticed about tourists is they all have Washington, D.C. sweatshirts on, as if wearing these will help them blend in with the 'natives' of D.C.. So, walking accross the mall from the metro to the Natural history museum it is not uncommon to see a group of about 20 13year olds with baby pink visors or sweatshirts saying D.C. on them giggling their way accross the mall. I also do not understand the need to videotape every step you take on a vacation and everything you see in a museum. Half the stuff I have seen in museums bore me or were interesting enough to see once and keep a nice mental picture in my head. Do people go home and sit on their couch and show their friends, who have probably already or someday will go and see the same thing, every detail of their vacation? I sound terrible, and I truly do understand the appeal and excitement of visiting a city of D.C., I just do not understand the habits of tourists and how everyone magically transforms into one when they visit a new place. I think half the spectacle of a place like D.C. is the spectacle created by the tourists that flock to the city and stop and marvel and videotape at every chance they get.

I am the biggest fan of Law and Order Special Victims Unit. The show is about the police squad that deals exclusively with rapes and children. More of the shows, however, deal with rape. SVU comes on EVERYDAY of the week on USA, and the new episodes come on on Tuesdays on NBC. I have seen almost every show, and I blame SVU for my procrastination. But I have found that most people prefer SVU over any other Law and Order show. Why? Is it because we're a society obsessed with sex? Rape is often argued to be the most heinous crime. So why do we have a tv show focused around it? And why are so many people infatuated by it?

I laugh during almost every show. The writers of the show have purposely added a lot of sarcasm into the dilect and the characters. My mom hates that I love this show and gets even more upset when I laugh because it's just a serious issue. But the show wants you to laugh. My mom is afraid I'm going to become numb to this type of violence; I guarentee you I won't. But, is the show right in adding humor? They want to educate the public of the brutality and seriousness of the problem of rape in society. They're trying to make the show lighter and less intense through humor. Is this ok? Or are people going to become numb to this sort of violence?

Yesterday I was coming homefrom shopping and waiting for the train in Metro Center. Two women got off the escalator, and one of them had a suitcase. She must have accidently hit the other lady with it without realizing. The woman turned around and gave the lady with the suitcase a disgusted look. The woman with the suitcase then said excuse me and asked what the problem was. The other lady started screaming that she was hit by the luggage and it was very rude. The lady with the suitcase then applogized and said she didn't know what had happened because she wouldn't be able to feel what her suitcase hit, and that it was ridiculous and immature to give her a dirty look. Everyone waiting for the train focused their attention on these two ladies. The dirty look was what caused this situation to become a spectacle. If the first woman did not give the other day a look, the woman would never have known her suitcase hit someone and the train station would not have been disturbed. I think the most interesting part of this spectacle is the comments I over heard from bystanders. Everyone began whispering, mostly about who's fault it really was. I think it's the lady that gave the other lady a dirty look. Train stations are crowded and it's hard traveling with luggage. How was she supposed to do know her bag hit someone? But I heard other people saying that if you are going to be travling with a suitcase, it is your responsibility to make sure you don't hit anyone else. So who's fault is it? Does it even matter? A spectacle was still made. In the broader scheme, can most spectacles have debated causers?

America is so obsessed with body image that I cannot turn on the television or go online without seeing an ad for some new piece of equipment that will supposedly give me abs of steel or some new miracle pill that will make me lose 20 pounds in 2 days. People complain about the stick thin actresses and supermodels but also the growing rate of obesity. To fix the country's so-called "weight problem," companies and manufacturers feel the need to assault the public with weight loss programs (the South Beach Diet, Atkins, The Zone), pills (Hydroxycut), and tapes (anything with John Basedow). What I have noticed is that food companies aren't just putting "reduced fat" products on their shelves but "low carb" products for those carb counters out there, what seems to be the new wave of popularity. I mean even Ben and Jerry's has come out with a carb conscious ice cream. The nation with the worst eating habits has become the nation with the biggest push to fix it and we have the grocery aisles full of low fat, low carb crap to prove it. We've gone into a frenzy in an attempt to balance the weight issue. There's a difference between being healthy and then going a little overboard.

I will admit I am addicted to the stock market. At first it was just an interest, now it is an obsession. The first thing I do every time I walk into my room is run to my to specially designated monitor that contains my real time quotes. This monitor displays over 50 stocks of my preference. Every time someone buys or sells shares I am notified immediately as well as price changes. The screen is constantly flickering with red and green rectangles, signaling to me that a stock and gone down or up. This last financial quarter has been extremely eventful and upsetting to investors. News about annual earnings, quarterly earnings, new technology, and crude oil prices dictate the day’s activities. This summer I have an internship at Morgan Stanley in New York where I can experience the hustle and bustle of Wall Street. Here I will see the true spectacle of Wall Street. Wall Street itself is quite an experience with all the noise, activity, and traffic. The frequently changing information always causes stir ups from investors and the environment is very loud and impressive. Even though I am not on Wall Street currently, I can still feel the rush that goes through the people who spend their days on Wall Street.

When I first came to GW, I noticed something. Every girl looks the exact same, dresses the same and acts the same, it’s amazing. I mean, I come from a town where the girls are very similar to the girls at GW. I can even admit I care about the same things these girls do and I dress the same and shop at the same places. I remember in the beginning of the year calling my parents and being like “Mom honestly, these girls wear chanel, mini skirts, and do their hair for their friggen 8ams.” I was shocked, here I am walking to class first semester, in sweats, not showered (I know it’s gross), and a t-shirt. You wouldn’t believe the stares I got from some fellow students when they saw me walking down the street, absolute disgust.
I promised myself I would not turn into one of those girls who look like they are going to prom for their morning classes. Unfortunately, as the year went on, I began finding myself waking up an extra hour and a half earlier just to do my hair or look nice. I felt a lot better about myself walking to class. I’m not saying I gave in and looking at these other girls made me do it, but getting dressed for classes isn’t so bad. I actually felt better the whole day.

The other day I stopped into Starbucks for a drink before class. Of course the line was huge, like it is in every Starbucks you go into. I don’t even drink coffee, I’m one of those people who gets anything but a latté or a cappuccino. My dad on the other hand, gets 3 Starbucks coffees a day which all have to be the most bitter and strongest kind of coffee. He almost has like designated times and when we go somewhere where there isn’t a Starbucks, he almost goes into withdrawal. It’s sad. I noticed over the years, the orders the employees take are becoming more complicated, long, and stupid. I have to laugh at the ladies who order a “double, skim, chai, no sugar, latte with a pinch of cinnamon on top..”. They obviously ordered some stupid crap drink that they probably don’t even know what it is just to order it, sound sophisticated, and make it complicated. I have to admit, my own sister does the same thing, but at least she knows what she wants. If you want a coffee honestly, then just get a coffee is my opinion.

I bet every teenager has seen and probably enjoyed the show Family Guy. I had never really watched it before coming to school. I kind of thought before that it was one of those shows that I wouldn’t think was funny or it was just stupid and all my guy friends liked it. Well, I was wrong. It may be one of the most clever and hilarious shows I’ve ever seen. Because my boyfriend is an avid watcher, I’ve probably seen almost every episode so far. I realized that the show makes fun of everything from TV shows, politics, and movies, to what society views as normal. Some people may not get the hidden jokes that come up throughout an episode, but you can definitely catch the obvious ones. This show really makes you think about what goes on around and you may take some things a little lighter after watching an episode or a few. I can’t wait for the new season to start in May.

The GW campus is being invaded by potential freshman! I know that every time I swipe in at Thurston I am greeted by masses of these prospective students. I cannot walk a corner without escaping them. There have been loads of students for the past month exploring our campus. The whole college process is quite a spectacle. From the mounds of applications to the large amounts of college visits. The process is also very complicated if you think about it. You need to take the SAT or ACT. This requires months of preparation and can require lot of money for tutor expenses. You then have to send those scores to colleges along with your essay and applications. Also you need to make sure your school forwards your transcript and teacher recommendations. After completing this mundane process, the ever-stressful waiting period occurs. You have to wait 2 or 3 full months to hear the decisions. Finally, after being accepted to the schools you need to go and visit them. I was inspired to write this after my recently hearing about my brother’s process. In the past 3 weeks my brother and father have traveled the U.S. to visit colleges. They have made their way to the West Coast to visit Stanford then all the way to the Northeast portion of America to visit Harvard as well as 6 other universities. The whole process leaves your desk piled sky high and leaves campuses packed to their limits

Passover is my favorite holiday. I love reading the Haggadah with my family, eating delicious nosh, and laughing at my youngest cousin who has to say the four questions every year. Unfortunately, being in college prevented me from participating in my family's sedar. Instead, I went to Hillel to satisfy my Passover yearning.
While I did not particularly like the religious aspect of the sedar, I still enjoyed my night at Hillel. One of the reasons I love Passover so much, is that the holiday is about coming together as Jews and remembering the troubles and triumphs of the Jews that came before us. Being at Hillel, surrounded by at least 100 Jewish college students gave me great comfort, because I felt like a member of the community. There were rows of tables lined up in the Hillel basement, filled with excited practicers if the Jewish faith. It felt so good to participate in this spectacle. The mass gathering of Jews, reading the same prayers at the same time filled me with warmth and joy. While it wasn't as good as being at my family's sedar, it was still a meaningful and memorable event!

At 7:58 AM this morning, as I was rushing to my evilly early morning class, I couldn't help but notice the small group of people putting little pink and blue flags up in University Yard. As I got farther in, I saw a table set up in the center of the Yard, with a banner reading "GW Students for Life". At first I didn't get it, until I saw the pamphlets sitting nearby... anti-abortion information. But I was in a hurry, so I barely slowed to look.

Walking back after class, the group had finished the flags. It seemed like tall pink and blue flowers had grown throughout, leaving only the brick paths to walk on. I couldn't help but have a feeling of disgust, but not disgust at what the display intended to attack. Abortion is one of a few issues I feel very, very strong on, and while I can understand and respect the beliefs of pro-life supporters, I do not agree with them. The display reminded me of that, it didn't sway my opinion in any way. As a spectacle, it did not convince me.

But it made me think about abortion nevertheless...

When the original Xbox was released a few years ago it was hyped beyond belief. Touted as being the most advanced videogame console ever created, Xbox was all about being the biggest and best, from it's specs, to it's graphics and sound processing capabilities, as well as it's physical craving to be "on top" (it was actually designed with a slightly rounded and beveled top so that other consoles/dvd players/equipment/etc doesn't lay stably on it).
Now the second iteration of the Xbox console is set to be released by Microsoft, which seemingly hit a home run with it's first dive into a market with which it had no experience prior to Xbox 1. Rather than preview this new console at an electronics or computing trade show, as it did the first time, Microsoft is aiming to reach it's target market by showing a sneak preview on MTV this May 12th. The half hour event will feature a popular band - The Killers, as well as a host, Elijah Wood, all on a network synonymous with the hip and young. Already, very vague tv ads are out promoting the MTV release show itself - not even the release of the console – just the show that debuts it! This should be an interesting couple of weeks (months?) as Microsoft tries to work it's way into the pilot seat of every home-entertainment system in the country.

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/news/2005/0411-mtv.htm

In the beginning of the semester, there were several posts about the wonder that is thefacebook.com. Out of nowhere emerged a website which connected college students around the US and Canada through personal profiles, groups, and course rosters.

I'll be the first to admit that many-a-day, instead of making blog posts, I am on thefacebook scrolling through my friends list looking to see who updated their profile. Some call it legal stalking, and in a lot of ways, it is.

Tonight (04/24/05-04/25/05) thefacebook faced such heavy traffic, that it was impossible to log in. In a span of 15 minutes, I heard complaints from six of my friends. "Andrea," one of them said. "Can I use your computer to look someone up on facebook?"..."Damn, I can't see his profile right now because facebook is being loopy"

Perhaps some of you did not even know there was a facebook outage, but for those GW students who wanted to participate in some "legal stalking", this certainly was a spectacle.