Help me Team Unicorn, You’re my only hope…

I got into a discussion about ‘Male Privilege’ in comics and nerd/geek culture in general.  I mostly agreed with this article, but would contend that the world is changing and geeks and gamer girls are gaining their own voice and earning respect… in some circles … by guys who aren’t dicks.

The main tenant of that article is that geeks/gamers will : 

“insist that they treat women exactly the same as they treat guys – all the while ignoring the fact that their behavior is what’s making the women uncomfortable and feeling unwelcome in the first place.”

I believe that this isn’t a black and white issue.  I would counter that everyone is responsible for their behavior and the tenants for sexism and prejudice don’t arise because of geek culture, those attributes arise elsewhere and are magnified by the insular nature of a predominately introverted fandom.

I’m an adult and have made no illusion that my past has prejudiced my outlook on life, but I also do my best to treat everyone as an equal and listen to other opinions before I talk.  When I read an article like the one mentioned above, I see another kind of prejudice, that of the overly sympathetic male:

What?  How can you say that?  That article seemed very sympathetic to woman’s issues.  Yeah, I thought so too, until I read the last sentence.

“And when you check back on Friday, I’ll provide you with some concrete applications on how being cognizant of male privilege will improve your relations with women.”

Am I wrong, or is this entire article a blueprint on a subterfuge?  If you’re worried about improving your relations with women (i.e., how do I better get laid), then you’re doing it wrong.  What you should be worried about is how your interpersonal skills allow you to function in an ever changing world.  That last sentence turned that whole article on its ear for me.  This was nothing more than a blueprint for how the jerk gamer/geek can satisfy his lady friend and continue to be a self-righteous douchebag. 

The truth is that there are plenty of inroads that women have made in geek/gamer culture. During the middle ages, zealots desecrated art by chopping off exposed genitalia or covering it up with a fig leaf.  At the turn of the century, I was playing Everquest and one of my guildmates was a woman who played a male avatar in order to avoid the sexist bullshit.  Fast forward to today, where I play Guild Wars with my wife and 2-3 other strong women who comprise our core group.  Now, that’s not to say that women have it easy.  Sexism still exists everywhere… 

The article on male privilege seems to relate the objectification of females in comics and games as proof that women are treated as second class, but it also either ignores or brushes aside cases of male objectification in the same art form:

Yes, fantasy and science fiction literature has a long history of placing women in unrealistic manners of dress, but I would contend that all art places women and men alike in unrealistic manners of dress.  If you are looking for a realistic woman warrior in a fantasy series, look to Game of Thrones:

This scene says a lot about the whole topic.  However, this topic isn’t black and white.  In fantasy and science fiction you can have both Brienne of Tarth and Catwoman. The medium is there to explore social issues.  Star Trek wasn't a great science fiction story because of the short skirts and special effects.  It was a study of the human condition set through a science fiction lens that helps one see that condition through a unique perspective.

The core issue here revolves around women in geek and gamer culture.  While it’s true that women are an oddity, an unicorn if you will.  However, women also have a role in this society just as they do in every other aspect of the world around us.  Team Unicorn, a group of beautiful actresses who also love video games, comics, and Star Wars exists as a message to other women out there.  You don’t have to wear sack cloth and hide behind an asexual persona in order to thrive in a world of fandom:

Yes, fantasy and science fiction can objectify men, women, and just about anything in an effort to create an art form that many hold near and dear to their hearts.  As citizens of this planet, we need to move to a place where we cherish everyone’s opinion.  We need to find that scrap of something to adore and not be afraid of showing people that child-like glee.  Don’t worry how to be politically correct in order to ‘improve your relations with women’.  That won’t work.  Strive to be open minded, or as Will Wheaton would say; ‘Be awesome’.

Summer Playlist (2013)

It's that time of year when I want to drive with the windows open and listen to music just a little louder than I should.  In the past I would make a mixed tape.  In later years I would burn a CD.  Today, I just link to a series of YouTube videos (see below), although the ads get annoying, or I create a playlist for my iPod.

The making of a great compilation tape, like breaking up, is hard to do and takes ages longer than it might seem. You gotta kick off with a killer, to grab attention. Then you got to take it up a notch, but you don't wanna blow your wad, so then you got to cool it off a notch. There are a lot of rules.

-- from High Fidelity (2000)

So, without further ado.. 

MY 2013 SUMMER PLAYLIST

I tried to include music from this decade, although I had to insert some songs that just are ingrained in my summer listening mythos (i.e., J. Giles and The Rolling Stones and Roxy Music).

Enjoy

My Star Wars VII Fantasy draft:

Based on the following news item out of LucasFilms:

http://popwatch.ew.com/2013/06/19/star-wars-sequel-characters/

Also, I'm assuming that Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, and Mark Hammill are already cast.

“Late-teen female, independent, good sense of humour, fit.”

Maisie Williams (Arya Stark from GoT... she's awesome)

“Young twenty-something male, witty and smart, fit but not traditionally good looking.”

Liam Hemsworth

“A late twentysomething male, fit, handsome and confident.”

Richard Madden (Rob Stark from GoT.. his schedule is now open)

“Seventy-something male, with strong opinions and tough demeanour. Also doesn’t need to be particularly fit.”

Anthony Hopkins

“A second young female, also late teens, tough, smart and fit.”

Jennette McCurdy (they talked about her in the article and yeah, she's good)

“Forty-something male, fit, military type.”

Viggo Mortensen

Thirtysomething male, intellectual. Apparently doesn’t need to be fit.

Jonny Lee Miller

Okay, wanted to get this down to see how it plays out :)

Privacy and the Internet

In response to the whole hullaballoo about the NSA data mining operation, I wanted to throw my 2-cents in the debate.  I know that some of my more liberal minded friends might disagree, but I believe that Edward Snowden should be arrested and prosecuted for divulging classified information.  It’s very simple really, he leaked information that was classified and that is punishable under our existing laws.

Now, let’s delve into what was leaked.  The government is using ‘big data’ obtained from internet providers and phone companies (the line is very blurry there) to conduct meta-analysis and look for trends and indicators.  Think an attempt at Psychohistory from the Foundation novels of Asimov, or the big computer in the TV show Person of Interest.  Is mining of that type of data wrong for a government to do?

My answer may surprise some.  I would say no.  First of all, the data in question is data that has been released to the ‘verse from the individual.  In other words:  “From here to the eyes and the ears of the 'Verse, that's my motto, or it might be if I start having a motto.”

In other other words.. should we have any expectation of privacy once we release something to the internet?  I would say no.  Once we post on a message board, send an eMail, or update our Facebook status, we should have no expectation that information isn’t available to the ‘verse as a whole. 

“There is no news. There is only the truth of the signal. What I see. And, there's the puppet theater the Parliament jesters foist on the somnambulant public.”

We have a flawed system of government, but one that is based on some checks and balances.  We need to abide by the laws around secrecy and confidentiality and then work on our leaders to enact better means for us to protect and restrict access to the data that they have access to.  However, don’t ever think that you have privacy in this world when you access the internet and place a camera on your life with Facebook and other social media.  Don’t canonize a traitor for breaking the law and exposing something that’s been evident since well before 2001.

New Music on my iPod

There has been a dearth of good music in the new millennia.  There have been some bright spots.  Porcupine Tree and Spock’s Beard have satisfied my love of Progressive Rock.  There have been some good folk bands and a few good albums peppered the landscape, but that’s about it.

In the late 80s I lived in New England and enjoyed the Boston music scene.  There were some great bands. The Neighborhoods and The Zulus were staples at places like The Channel and TT The Bears. 

We would go to Providence to see bands like Husker Du at The Living Room.  One show at the Channel in Boston, we saw Soul Asylum open for Husker Du (awesome show).

So, fast forward 23 years and an older father of two teenage girls is surfing the internet and comes across a band that scratches the same itch that those bands of the late 80s and early 90s scratched. I ran across a band from Kitchner, Ontario, comprised of three teenagers who actually rocked hard, Courage My Love.

Why am I writing about this band?  Well, because they renew my faith in music.  The creative force behind this group is twin sisters, Phoenix and Mercedes Arn-Horn. These kids write their own music and lyrics, which is highly commendable in this age of pre-packaged, sanitized music.  Their first EP, For Now, has 7 very good songs that were penned when these girls were 17-18 years old.  They are two years older than my eldest daughter.  Wow, I feel old. 

At any rate, these kids are worth a listen.  They have a ton of talent and potential.

GMO

Genetically Modified Organisms, or GMOs, are primarily used in biological and medical research, production of pharmaceutical drugs, experimental medicine (e.g. gene therapy), but in recent years they have been a part of agricultural production (e.g. golden rice, resistance to herbicides). The term "genetically modified organism" does not always imply, but can include, targeted insertions of genes from one species into another.  This can be very useful in that some cells can be induced to produce substances that are wonderfully beneficial to man.  However, that benefit is being overshadowed by a misinterpretation of what is actually happening with GMOs in modern agriculture.

We have selectively bread species of animal or plant for centuries to express certain characteristics.  That manipulation in and of itself is genetic modification.  Bacon has the delicious proportion of fat and muscle through those manipulations.  There isn’t a geneticist out there producing a pig who’s fat produces maple syrup or making a tomato plant with the addictive qualities of cigarettes (i.e., Tomacco plants).

  That would be worth serious scrutiny.  No, what we have today is quite nefariously different.  We have companies who trademark the genetic sequence of certain plants as a way to corner the market on those commodities (soy beans, corn, etc…).  That is the vast majority of GMO food that is out there today AND it is relatively harmless.

What is more important than the call for labeling of GMOs, which in my opinion miss the mark and only cause potential trade barriers, is that these genetic patents on plants cause monopolies in the agricultural industry.  Those monopolies then dictate to their farmers what and where to plant.  Labeling isn’t the issue.  The issue is corporate welfare for agricultural companies trying to corner the market on our food supply.  That doesn’t require a label, but rather regulation. 

My “Best Of” Band

While listening to some new music, I was musing on who were the best (based on the music that I listen to) at their various instrument.  While this is a wholly subjective assessment, I will offer some examples of why I think the people I picked for the top slot deserve that title:

Vocals –

In rock music, the band’s front man is usually the lead singer.  A quote from the great movie, Almost Famous, says it all; ‘I work just as hard or harder than anybody on that stage. You know what I do? I connect. I get people off. I look for the guy who isn't getting off, and I make him get off.’  Therefore, for lead vocals, you need a larger than life figure.  For me, there are many.  Roger Daltrey, Robert Plant, Mick Jagger and Anthony Kiedis are all contenders, but the seminal front man is Jim Morrison:

Guitar –

This is a tough one and I’m going outside the normal box for my selection.  Rock is synonymous with a strong searing guitar and there are MANY that percolate to the top; Pete Townsend, Eric Clapton, David Gilmore, Jimmy Page, Jimmy Hendrix, and Alex Lifeson (a favorite).  My pick for this spot goes to Phil Manzanera, best known as lead guitarist for Roxy Music, although his solo works shine.  (this pick will probably be the most controversial)  This clip shows Phil with David Gilmore:

Bass –

The bass player is the heart of any band.  The beat of modern rock and roll is dictated by the harmony between the bass and drums.  Good bass players go unnoticed but make mediocre bands great.  Great bass players blow people’s minds.  Some of the best are Geddy Lee, Tony Levin, Greg Lake, Paul McCartney (he’s actually a really good bass player) and John Entwistle.  However, my favorite bass player is Flea (nuff said):

Keyboards –

You don’t need keyboards in a rock band, but when you do have them the sound is elevated beyond that of a simple beat.  Great keyboardists are usually featured in some of the more complex bands, like Yes (Rick Wakeman) and Genesis (Tony Banks), but even Elton John must be recognized as a stellar keyboardist. My favorite is, and always has been Keith Emmerson:

  

Drums –

Along with the bass player, the drummer is the heart of the band.  With a good drummer, the band can venture into the realm of greatness.  Many fit the bill; Carl Palmer, Keith Moon, Ringo Starr, and Bill Bruford are among my favorites.  However, the best drummer, by a wide margin really, is Neil Pert.  His musicianship (not to mention his songwriting ability) put him above and beyond the rest:

At any rate, that’s my little rant for today.  Please let me know how you feel and realize that this is my opinion today.  I have the prerogative to change my mind tomorrow.