So I’m writing this on Sunday, September 5, at 12:30 in the morning as my radio show, “The Bro Show” has it’s premier showing.  Wait, wouldn’t it be a listening? I don’t know.  Anyway, things are frantic here at WTBU, The BEAT of Boston University.  Broadcasting live at 89.3 FM or 640 AM or online at wtburadio.org.  You can call in at 617-353-6400 or watch/listen on BU channel 6.

As I try furiously to not only pick

out rotation songs and log all my songs, I am racking my mind to figure out what I want to talk about during talking breaks (about every four songs).  ”Daylight” by Matt & Kim just came on.  Awesome, I know.  Today’s show was simply songs I love, nothing else.  Later shows, once I have help, will be jazz nights, hip hop nights, British invasion, etc.  I have to talk again in about a minute, I think I’ll recap and then speak on a band, The Wombats, and their new single I’ll be playing. “Tokyo (Vampires and Wolves)” is the title but I’ve only found it on youtube so far right here. As you can read, I’m flustered and trying to keep up AS I write this blog, but this is what I love and I would never give it up.  WTBU is pretty much ALMOST as cool as Culture Shock…..when WTBU people aren’t around….

He would bust one move too many.

Music is one of my many passions, so I figured sense I have no help this week, why not just play what I love?  I’m playing a mix of some of my favorites and it’s kicking ass.  I’m typing and I dance in my seat.  It’s wicked. Seriously, try it out.  Then get up and dance for real….Raul.  Music allows us to jam out, to express our inner most feelings, and to just relax and cut loose on everything that we hold inside.  Music is my medium to express my soul, to add some fun into every aspect of my life.  I wish I had a soundtrack just to follow me.

I want to hear what you, the reader, love to listen to.  I want to know what makes BU get up and shake what their momma’s “gave ‘em.”  So please comment on this and hey, if I can get ahold of what you like and I get enough comments, I will do a complete Culture Shock playlist for an upcoming episode. Much Love! Tune in and support WTBU…..The BEAT of Boston University.

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We need to assume that the universe is eternal. This means that matter will always exist within space. Right now, in this instant, if you take a snap shot of the universe, all matter would be organized in some combination, that you can call combination A. This includes how the Earth and Weather is behaving to how your neurons are organized and your personality, memories, etc. As time passes, matter is shifting into different combinations. Eventually, people will die who experienced combination A and given even more time the Earth will have dissipated.

However, with a lot more time, it is possible that matter will shift back into combination A. This would mean that at some time after your death, you would exist again as you have. Now, the probability of this combination occurring would be one out of an incomprehensibly high number, but it is still a probability that can occur, and it has all of eternity to happen.

This could also mean that this is not the first time you have been in this situation, reading this blog and doing whatever you’re doing this day. So when you are dead and gone, you may just come back like you were again and again and again and again…

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Poland- The Nation of Strength- Allison teaches us about her Polish cooking and gives us some history from the country!

Born Into Fortune- George talks about how lucky we are to be in the developed world.

Thoughts on the “Ground Zero Mosque”- An anonymous writer gives us some things to think about concerning the Islamic Center being built in New York.

The Reluctant Graduate- Monica helps talk about the bittersweet feeling from graduating a year early.

Embrace Your Inner Dork- Eric nerds out with everyone’s favorite football head, Hey Arnold!

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Neal: So Mark, lets start with a trip down memory lane. Tell us a little bit about you’re experience at Boston University

Mark: I was there from 1985-1989. I lived on campus, in Warren Towers and later Myles in Kenmore Square, and attended the College of Communications. I was involved in campus, as part of the Stage Troupe, an improve Troupe, a writers workshop, and I wrote some plays.

N: So when you left BU, what was your first job.

M: I went strate to Los Angeles. In Com, I majored in broadcast and film with an emphasis in screen writing and the intention of becoming a writer. My first job was working as a writer at Jerry Shambling show, on Showtime I think. It’s kind of funny how I got the job though, I didn’t know anybody, so I was sneaking onto lots to try to get a bearing about places and learn about them. I snuck onto the lot and they were expecting an interview, who wasn’t me, but the person didn’t show up so I just walked in and did the interview. The first job I got in holly wood I got by taking an interview that wasn’t my interview and ended up getting a temp job.

N: So in many ways it was fate that you got that job

M: Yea, it’s a good example of “make your own luck.” My first job was an interview that wasn’t even meant for me. Once I had that job it was easier to find other work. I spent my first year and a half as a runner, for a production assistant. Its essentially the lowest level, not really paid very well, and then I got my break and went to Roseanne, I had a really good pitch and I got hired on the spot.

N: Was Roseanne your first writing gig for television.

M: Yes, well it was really my only writing gig. When I left Roseanne I did a lot of freelance work where I would pitch a lot of stuff. I ended up having bad luck, and then my agent decided he would stop being an agent, and then I sort of bounced around from agent to agent, and because of it I missed out on getting a job that season. Hollywood is really about momentum, and I lost a lot of momentum and anyway I had some good luck and I had some really bad luck. In the meantime, in my down time I started playing a game, I’ve always been a game player, and there was this game called Magic the Gathering that I got very into. The game started in 1993 so I got into it right when it started, and I started doing freelance stuff for the company that made the game, which was Wizards of the coast, and I ended up segueing my freelance work into a full time job. In 1995 I moved out to Seattle to do fulltime work for wizards of the coast.

N: So when you
were doing the freelance work, what were you thinking? Did you think, “this job would be awesome if they offered me a position?”

M: No no no. I started doing the freelance work because I liked the game and I was in between jobs and I was bored. I didn’t think it was going to lead to anything. The first thing I did is I wrote puzzles for duelist magazine writing puzzles. I started mostly as a fan and was intrigued by the game and I wanted to get involved. I started doing freelance work because there was the money and I liked it, I was in between writing and I liked the money. Wizards was very young at the time and desperately needed people and so I got just more and more and more freelance work. They started flying me out to Seattle a bunch and on one of my trips to Seattle I concluded that I would be willing to move out to Seattle to work for the company, so I told them I was willing to move and they were like, when can you start.

N: Most of our readers are undergraduates. As such, is there a piece of wisdom that you would go back and give yourself as an undergraduate, or even to undergraduates today?

M: I think its important for them to understand what they’re up against. There are opportunities but it requires a lot of work, and talent alone isn’t enough. As they say, it’s not just talent its persistence. The hardest thing about Hollywood is not necessarily doing work, though that’s important. The trick is getting who needs to see it to see it. You can write an excellent test script, but if you can’t get it to an agent or a producer to see it, it’s very hard for it to equal a job. That said I do believe the talent will win out, I believe a persistent, talented person can find work. The biggest mistake I feel looking back on my Hollywood career was, I had a chance to pick an agent and I went with who I thought was a better agent rather than who I felt would be better for me. I sort of did what I was supposed to do as opposed to what felt right which I think was a huge mistake. Be careful not to fall into the trap of doing what people tell you is the right thing to do as opposed to what you feel is the right thing. I feel like the biggest mistake I made in Hollywood was that I didn’t follow my heart.

N: Now that you’ve been doing Magic for a while, do you ever get bored with what you do and do you ever feel like there’s something else you would move on from Magic for?

M: Not really I love magic and it’s a dream job. I’ve been doing it for fifteen years and you know, why do you do the same job for fifteen years, it’s because when you find something you like you stay. I really like doing what I do. Magic is an ever changing game, so my job is never boring. I’m not doing the same thing day in and day out, I’m constantly doing different things, I have different creative challenges. It’s definitely a job that challenges me every day and I really enjoy that. I like a job that’s creatively and intellectually challenging. I’ve had the opportunity to use a lot of my communication skills, I not only design but I do a lot of writing, I’m a major spokesperson for the game so I do a lot of outreach to the community. I designed the perfect job for myself, and over the years I’ve been able to slowly pick and choose the skills I want to make my job about and I got my niche, I have no interest in leaving at all.

N: Did you always envision yourself in charge of whatever you’d be doing in life?

M: My original goal when I went to LA was I wanted to create a television show, that was my big goal. I did write on other shows, but my end goal was I really wanted to create something. I ended up in a different place than I thought I would, but the same goal is there, I really wanted to create things and Magic really lets me create things that I can take ownership in. One of the great things about magic is we have a very dedicated community and I get a lot of feedback, through my e-mail and twitter account and the forums and what not. They talk to me a lot, and when I do things they enjoy they talk about what it is. Of course there are people who love to criticize. I feel like what I set out to do in Los Angeles I was able to do here, yes it’s in a different medium. Designing a game is not quite the same as writing a television show.

My President is Black, my Lambo is Blue

The majority of us would never hire a person with Grills for a management position in an office.  Some would believe that every girl with a thong hanging out is immediately promiscuous.  Stigmas have been and probably will always be a part of our daily life, the tattoo stigma just happens to be on its way out.  We do not categorize them as our parents did.

So when someone ridicules me for putting art permanently on my body, I have trouble getting angry, because I know to them it is the same as me wearing a grill to an interview, or god forbid having my man-thong hang out at a 4 star restaurant.  All of us judge on varying degrees, and I don’t think it is necessarily a bad thing, just a part of human interaction.

But Culture Shock can also occur in subtle ways when you least expect it. You may pay extra attention to the homeless on Newbury Street like Bonnie, feel ‘re-shocked’ when returning home after a year away at college like Eric, or wonder why your friend isn’t accepting your offer of water on a hot day like myself.

The cure for Culture Shock is simple: start talking. Take a few moments to learn about someone else’s point of view, idea, or cultural background by reading one of our posts. Then, leave comments that let us know your side of the story.

In addition to sharing narratives about Culture Shock, let’s talk about topics in which we all can identify. Hear what Mike has to say about sports and Nairika about the wonderful taste of hummus. Watch a video of a musician that Halee recommends or a documentary that Martin found to be interesting.

While we are it, let’s not shy too far away from the controversial issues that need to be discussed. Respectfully engage in a conversation with Monica about the immigration law in Arizona, Icee about the actions of Chris Brown, Kim about hot-button environmental issues, and Adam about a divisive Supreme Court ruling.

Then, help educate others about the world around us. Help Ksenia break down negative stereotypes associated with community college. Follow George’s lead by showing respect to those who serve us everyday.  Add your thoughts to Melodi’s discussion of how to not dislike the disliker.

Basically, we here at Culture Shock are willing to talk about anything. All we ask is that you take Neal’s advice to be yourself and never forget your roots.

Whatever happened to experiencing? Personal growth and introspection?

My generation is now so comfortable with the internet, practically having been born in a computer chair, that we substitute actual experience with Google searches.

You know those older movies (you might not, because anything made before karate kid is just ridiculous- and let’s face it, even karate kid is only acceptable because of the recent remake) where the guy, or gal, is standing at the subway platform of some random city in some random country, and he looks like he just had a profound personal revelation? I feel like that doesn’t happen anymore. Sure, there are still movers and shakers out there, explorers. But in the end, I feel like most people would rather Google ‘platform + revelation’ than actually experience it.

Perhaps I have high expectations. I spent my childhood constantly moving, and my formative years in 3 different countries. I have had my share of platform revelations. And they are amazing, and I want more of them. And perhaps I am being hypocritical, talking about my generation’s dependence on the internet, as I blog about this idea.

But it is a shame. As much as I use the internet, and as much of a fan I am of reading (whether it is internet, kindle, or the archaic media of the paperback book), they are no substitute for experiential learning. Going out and experiencing the world. I feel like even a late-night trip to the movies with friends doesn’t happen anymore. Why bother going to the cinema when you can stay on your couch and watch the latest movies on your droid (and simultaneously IM your friends your opinion of said movie)?

And I’m not saying I don’t understand it. I, too, grew up with the internet, and god knows my laptop is on from dawn to dusk. But what happens whenever you find comfort in something, especially something as vast and versatile as the internet, is that you lose your ability to be spontaneous. And I fall victim to it as well. I seriously consider not studying abroad because I don’t know how much internet access I will have. and god forbid a friend texts me to hang out at 10 at night, ’cause I’ll be at home, firmly ensconced in my couch watching Gilmore Girls with the world at my fingertips as the laptop rests in my lap. It’s a comfortable position. Secure. And going out and experiencing something new, something with which you are not familiar is suddenly not as appealing anymore.

But it is vastly important. It is in those situations that you find out what you’re made of- who you are, as cliché as it sounds. And the best part is, eventually you become confident in whom you are, and as you continue to experience new things, and encounter unfamiliar situations, you are able to handle it better and enjoy it more. You get to define yourself by the experiences you have had, and not the blogs that you have saved in your ‘favorites.’ but it does require getting up and closing that laptop. And the more insight I gain on how little insight I’m gaining from Google, the more motivated I am becoming to go out and experience my world. And I think everyone should do that. Go out and have your own platform revelations. You need them. And, if you do allow yourself the guilty pleasure of blogging about them, I won’t hold it against you. As long as you had them in the first place. I’ll see you out there.

Visibly missing in the above list of races is a Latino lead. Until very recently, there is no title in the Marvel repertoire that is headlined by a Latino hero. To my surprise, I’m flipping through the pages of Shadowland: Power Man, I suddenly find myself reading a Spanish dialogue (they actually used Spanish in the comic! They never do that!) and discover that the new Power Man is truly Victor Hernan Alvarez, a local of Spanish Harlem and the newest Hero for Hire. Now, after one issue we don’t know very much about this character’s background, his nationality (half Dominican!), we do know he was a native of Hell’s Kitchen before its take over by Daredevil.

So this is very exciting for me. We finally have a hero who seems important (his own mini series!) and he even has Luke Cage’s old moniker. Maybe Editor in Chief Joe Quesada, a Cuban American, has finally come around and noticed the apparent lack in Latino’s in Marvel’s mythology, one firmly planted in New York City for over sixty years. It’s always refreshing to see a new face, and I hole-heartedly welcome the new addition to the marvel storyline.

The controversy surrounding the “Ground Zero Mosque” has been receiving a great deal of media attention this summer, especially in New York City. Being a New Yorker, it has been literally impossible to avoid seeing coverage of it on television, in the papers, and on the internet. I thought I would share some of my personal reflections on the heated debate that has ignited around this issue (this would be a good time to take a moment and catch up on the issue. I recommend the articles written by Time Magazine and the New York Times.)

It seems like the criticism of this proposed cultural center is founded on the politicization of a number of things that should, for the sake of the families of the victims murdered on 9/11, never be subject to it. A review of the articles written by critics of the center, as well as interviews given by them, gives me this basic idea of their claim: The idea of building a mosque near Ground Zero is an insult to the memory of what occurred there, and to the families of those murdered there, because it will espouse the very ideology that caused the tragic attacks. Given the politicized nature of the statement, it needs to be looked at in piecemeal.

Firstly, the critics of the mosque, and by critics I mean those politicians and organizations that have taken up a side in this debate that they hope will further their aims, are very particular about using the term “mosque.” The basic definition of a mosque is simple: it is a place of prayer for Muslims, an Islamic church, if you will. Unfortunately, the vocal opponents of the Cordoba Center are using the word in such a way that one gets the feeling they want you to hear “headquarters” or “attack planning center.” This association is viciously crafted to fear-monger, and belies the reality of both the Cordoba Center and what a mosque is. A cursory look through the articles on the matter will show that the planned center will be a multi-story community meeting place with a swimming pool, art galleries, libraries, and office rooms from which to coordinate events and outreach. Of course, as an Islamic center, it will also include an area for Muslims to pray. So calling it a “mosque,” with the meaning intended by the critics (that meaning being: dingy basement somewhere in the dark recesses of the city where the next 9/11 is being plotted), is simply incorrect. What is more disappointing, in my opinion, is that the reality of a mosque has been smeared by this debate. Mosques have always been beautiful places for the community, as can be attested to by the many amazing mosques spread throughout the Muslim world, and their history. So maybe the Cordoba Center can be considered a mosque, but only when one knows what a mosque really is. Unfortunately, some want to use the fact that mosques were involved in planning an attack by fringe extremists to inform the public’s idea of mosques in general.

The second point to delve into is the idea that, by being a place that will allow others to learn about Islam, this center is desecrating Ground Zero, since Islam is the ideology that caused the attacks. Again, one can see a clearly particular and politically motivated usage of terminology here. A few media sources have already pointed out the fact that there are stores that sell pornography in the area, yet this does not seem to have been considered a “desecration.” But the specific issue here, as is clear from the words of the opponents, is the teaching of Islam at this center. Islamophobia, the baseless fear and suspicion of anything having to do with Islam and Muslims (a good article on the topic written by Georgetown University professor John Esposito can be read here), has blurred the vision of these critics, who can no longer distinguish between the rhetoric of a small cabal of extremists and militants, and the attempts being made by the majority of mainstream Muslims to propagate a purified understanding of their religion. No one can undo the association of terrorism with Islam; the terrorists, aided by aspects of our media, have made it impossible. But one can appreciate and benefit from places where Islam’s mainstream understanding is taught, standing opposed to the skewed interpretations of militants (see Time’s profile of the imam behind the project). Is this not, then, an honor to Ground Zero? The presence of a place that will engender understanding and push for interfaith dialogue and friendship, so close to the location of a tragedy brought about by the exact opposite of those ideals, should be welcomed. Many have understood this point and thrown their support behind the Cordoba Center, including New York City’s mayor Michael Bloomberg and Massachusetts’s governor Deval Patrick.

The final, and in my opinion most abhorrent, aspect of this issue is the politicization of the grieving 9/11 families themselves. Their pain is something only they really understand, and they deserve our compassion and respect. Know that the families that lost loved ones on September 11^th are not the people being addressed in this piece. This is a discussion of the underhanded propagandizing that is being carried out by politicians that stir the grief of these families to their own ends. And even in this stirring of their grief, one can see a clear politically motivated selectiveness. A couple simple questions arise: what of the Muslims that lost loved ones? How do they feel seeing their religion run into the ground as it tries to fend off the militancy and extremism that killed their own? This use of grieving families, in my opinion, is the worst thing to come out of this entire debate.

I believe I’ve made my opinion clear. I welcome the Cordoba Center, and anxiously look forward to its completion. I hope that it will act as a conduit through which followers of all religions, ideologies, and philosophies will be able to meet and interact in a constructive way. I also view it as one of the few legitimate strikes against terrorism to be made since the beginning of the global “War on Terror.” Terrorism is an ideology, and can only be defeated on the battlefield of ideologies, our minds and hearts. In that light, this center is a more fitting redemption for the lives lost on that tragic day than any military action.

What my childhood should've been like.

Well earlier this week my dad, who is reading this (Hi Dad), asked if I’d consider loaning my electric guitar to our church’s youth group while I was in college.  Now you may be thinking, “Eric! Don’t do it! You need it in Boston to rock out with!”  I actually hope at least one person thought something like that.  Anyway, fear not because I have an electrified acoustic guitar I bring to Boston with me.  I can still play to my heart’s content and life is good.  So I go to my church today to give it to the youth group and I watch them rehearse for a bit and they’re decent enough for a group consisting of an electric guitar, drums, keyboard, tuba, piano, trombone, and a maraca.  Very eclectic, I know.  As I watch them rehearse, it doesn’t really look to me like any of them are genuinely excited to be there and no offense to Christian music, but I don’t blame them.  There is some good Christian music like Five Iron Frenzy or Relient K but the stuff they’re playing is so PC and cookie cutter, I am yawning while watching.  I’m more than thrilled that these kids have another outlet for their musical abilities and that they get to playing something other than the music in band/orchestra, but I can’t help but wish they could really cut loose.

Their rehearsal finished, I offered to help move stuff back down from the sanctuary to our youth lounge/cave.  In my year absence they’d installed a stage of sorts in a corner.  Needless to say, my drummer friend and I took full advantage of the opportunity.  As you’ve already been informed, I have never full out jammed prior to this point.  Click, BUZZZ, red light.  The amp is on, the guitar is plugged in.  Jack up the volume.  Crash, crash, thump, thump, bam, bam!  Ready to go, ready to rock.  I don’t know where to start so I just go into some chord progressions I know and a second later in come the drums.  Musical magic!  I can’t hear a thing I’m playing and my quarter for a pick plan isn’t the best but I’m having the time of my life nonetheless.  We just keep going, feet tapping, hands flying, music is born.  There is just a perfect fit between drums and guitar it can’t be explained.  My hands run up and down the neck of my red Fender, switching between rock, punk, blues, and pop.  My drummer friend keeps up no real problems except when I suddenly switch tempo, but a second later he’s good.  I play and play, not hearing what I’m producing over his drums but I figure it’s probably right and sounds decent enough.  I can hear my song that would make no sense of paper coming together, lyrics writing in my heard, is this what it’s always like or am I just experiencing a one time deal?  My youth pastor loves it, my dad loves it, my head pastor……not so much.  He’s old school and boring, he doesn’t appreciate the “noise” but you know what?  I don’t care, I’ve reached a new level of mind expansion.

Now for Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.  This movie is awesome.  Like, awesome awesome.  I realize that Ebert’s review is probably less kind and more eloquent than mine but I

An epic of epic epicness.

honestly cannot find anything about this movie I didn’t enjoy.  Even Michael Cera, who I’m not a huge fan of, was great.  He’s still that awkward, nerdy, innocent child like character for the vast majority of it, but he’s genuinely funny at times and his fight scenes are incredible.  To top all that off, the soundtrack is mind-blowing.  It’s got some of the best rock/punk I’ve heard in a long time.  Now to summarize while still being as vague as possible so one of my editors doesn’t commit murder, Scott Pilgrim falls for this girl named Ramona Flowers and they start dating.  As such Scott must now defeat her seven evil ex’s.  Chaos ensues, tons of characters, funny writing and situations, and of course crazy video game style fights.  The fights are easy to follow and make your eyes feel like they’re watching Pokemon on steroids, but it’s all worth it.  To top it all off, the love story is legitimately good.  You actually care about what happens to Scott and Ramona and the story progresses.  If you’re into fun, imagination filled, ADD inducing, indie-esc flicks, you’ll really enjoy this movie.  This movie manages to make even Toronto look cool (I jest, much love Canada).

As Neal Mowead once said, “I feel like I’m rambling, which is generally a cue to end the post.”  If I’ve learned anything today from my jam session and Scott Pilgriming, it’s this: life always has a million new experiences waiting for you.  Some serious, some silly.  Never turn one down, it may just open your mind some more.  Go to a movie, go to a concert, meet new people!  The next thing could be the best thing ever and trump your last best thing ever.  Alright that’s enough spazzing for one post.  THANK YOU CULTURE SHOCK! GOODNIGHT!