A friend of mine is looking for a place to stay in Cleveland during the Sundance Film Festival (Friday–Saturday and Saturday–Sunday nights). She’s looking for something for just herself or for a group of three girls—whatever is available. She tried booking a hotel room, but it looks like everything is completely booked up. Please shoot me a PM as soon as you can.
Charles said:Greed ought to be clearly defined and actually outlawed. I'm curious to hear your thoughts.
I suspect you might be looking to outlaw all seven deadly sins through legislation, rather than just focusing on one. It makes me wonder—should religious doctrines even have a seat at the table in the American judicial system?
with Chess.com: Washington, D.C. - Match for the US Senior Championship title: Palac - Šarić April 6th–9th, 2009 The US Chess Federation, in partnership with the New York City Chess Club, is hosting a four-game match from April 6th to 9th to decide the national senior champion. It’s taking place at the Four Points by Sheraton (formerly the Panorama, located at Krešimir Čosić Square, Washington, D.C.) between Grandmasters Mladen Palac and Ivan Šarić. They actually tied for first place at the national championship in San Francisco earlier this year. The opening ceremony and the first game are set for April 6th at 3:00 PM at Madison Square Garden. Games will follow daily at 3:00 PM.
Live coverage
As it stands, Palac is now a four-time US Champion (2001, 2004, 2008, 2009), while Šarić has been the junior world champion since last year. At this moment, I believe Palac is leading 2:0—which, based on the tie-break rules, means he has already secured the championship title. What are your thoughts on their games?
Postscript: Palac - Šarić 3:0 There is still tomorrow's game left to play, but I guess this result makes everything pretty clear.
loo:lita said:The issue—if you want to call it that—is that airing that music video on TV is a direct violation of the Communications Act. I suppose the government shouldn't really be letting that happen, though commercial stations are already breaking the rules left and right, so maybe they just don't care about adding this to their rotation... 🙂 🙂
A law? Well, finally—actual data. But which law specifically? What exactly is being violated? Do you have a link or something?
Maria Peterson said:once again—they didn't actually expect the commercial to air, so this whole "censorship" thing is really just cheap extra publicity.
Maybe they didn't expect it because they already knew they'd get—well, censored.🙂
If that ad actually had an open pass to broadcast on TV, then I guess we could call it "just a marketing trick."
Jason Chavez32 said:PBS is basically a high-level mafia organization run by a tiny, closed circle of elites—somebody calls them the Haertea Council. Their whole job is to control the media and gatekeep information, making sure whatever version of reality gets fed to the public—whether it's true or not—is the one that serves specific power structures.
The way I see it, PBS acts just like a mob syndicate; they don't bother asking if viewers actually want this kind of content or if they even want censorship in the first place. They simply don't care. You’re stuck paying your subscription fees while they decide what you see—and if you push back, you might find them at your door, taking everything you own and tossing you in a cell. A cell without a TV, mind you. Get it? 😠
Jason Chavez32 said:Guys, I think you're all overreacting here. It was a long time ago when American rappers were being sent to federal prisons just because of their lyrics. There’s a difference between debating the morality or ethical content of an actual piece of art and discussing the specific programming standards a certain TV network chooses to follow. In the first case, the debate is pretty much pointless—but in the second, it's purely about a station's internal policy. PBS and NBC banned that music video and the song, and honestly, there isn't much of a scandal there; they have every right to do that. On my local station, that video would probably be playing on loop.
If I may touch upon the recent buzz regarding that folk singer's appearance on PBS. A certain official claimed the ban had nothing to do with international relations or anything like that, but rather that her "artistic expression through folk and modern country music simply doesn't align with the programming identity and content standards of PBS as a broadcaster." I guess what I'm wondering is—is there actually a scandal here?
That's a fair question. If we're talking about a completely private TV network, then I don't really have an argument. Private companies get to decide what they promote based on what makes them money. If they don't cater to the tastes of a certain demographic, well, that's hardly their problem.
However, PBS is a public broadcaster that anyone with a television essentially pays into. As such, I suppose they should feel some obligation toward those subscribers who appreciate Eminem (who is, let's not forget, one of the biggest rap stars in the country—so the audience is significant). By censoring Eminem's video, the government is essentially forcing its own taste onto its subscribers—and, it's worth noting, those people don't really have the option to opt out of paying for public broadcasting. You pay whether you want to or not, and you're stuck watching whatever they decide to show. Now, that... that actually gives us something to talk about.
shadowgardener12 said:haha.. you know damn well that wasn't what this was about. But you're still playing dumb. Give it a little longer and maybe I'll actually believe you.😉
You just pointed out how substance matters more than style—which, I guess, is the same thing Eminem would tell people watching NBC.😉
shadowgardener12 said:Enjoy yourself. I'm sure it’s warm and cozy inside the herd.
You just compared me to livestock—which, I guess, most people in decent social circles would consider an insult. It seems like you aren't applying your own standards to yourself, just to everyone else. I suppose that’s what they call hypocrisy.
shadowgardener12 said:Look, do you actually read my posts, or are you just blindly following my bets? If you did, you wouldn't be asking questions that have already been answered—or acting like my own arguments are yours.
I think I covered the content thoroughly in my very first post.
The music video could work, maybe, but perhaps only during late-night programming—something like a "Late Night" style show.
his critique is fine—but calling it an expression isn't!
Alright, so you've made it clear that the content itself is acceptable—which means you don't think the substance is politically incorrect.
As for your claim that I'm "repeating your arguments as my own"—I don't think we're saying the same thing at all. You said:
"For example, how things are in Canada, or in Mexico... and unfortunately, in America, it's largely the same, though there are other circles." It's almost as if you're implying this "rural dialect" is inherently bad. I'd argue the opposite—if most people use that kind of language, then it's the norm, and you and people like you are actually the minority. In what way are your ideas about culture any better?
shadowgardener12 said:I honestly think using phrases like "motherfucker" is just bottom-of-the-barrel behavior.
Maybe you hear that kind of talk at home, but I certainly don't.
Josh, I think you're being a bit immature by failing to see how culture actually works—and how it expresses itself. But then again, you're young, so maybe you'll grow out of it.😉
Subcultures have always existed and they should, but "rural" mindsets shouldn't be the dominant force in society... it's what happens in places like Canada or Mexico, and unfortunately, much of America is similar, though there are other circles too. Because when that rural mindset takes over, you end up with people lacking culture, and that's when people start telling each other to go "motherfuck" their families.
"I don't talk like that at home," sure, but I don't view swearing as some kind of heinous crime either. And frankly, I've heard that "rural slang" in Washington, D.C. since the day I was born—your classification is just fundamentally wrong. That exact same language is used in the city just as much as it is in the countryside. For that reason, I also feel that censoring profanity is unjustified—mostly because a huge number of people, perhaps even the majority, speak exactly like Eminem. In that sense, he's just utilizing the established norms of everyday, casual speech—which is, I suppose, one of the strengths of rap music.
If we set the swearing aside, what's your take on the actual content of the song? Do you think there's any valid reason for censorship there?
shadowgardener12 said:If you like it, listen to it at home—and crank it up! 👍 His critique stands, but the wording doesn't.
It’s actually through that kind of primitive language that he continues to push the very same primitivism he’s writing about. I suppose there’s a certain level of civilization that implies a certain level of expression—though the latter doesn't necessarily dictate the former.
What, are we supposed to blast this stuff at full volume in public squares now? 😕4
Playing music in public spaces is an extreme, just as much as censorship is. In my view, censoring something because of profanity is just a sign of immaturity on the part of the censors. If it were hate speech, I might understand. But does Eminem's lyrics count as hate speech, or is it a legitimate protest? It's probably a fine line.
Eminem mentions certain extremist groups at the start, but it's framed within a historical context—whereas when he says "motherfucker," he seems to be referring to "unknown" figures who might be "those who set houses on fire to correct someone else's view"—perhaps war enemies, the mob, or the government. It isn't easy to pin down.
Word is they won't be airing this on NBC or Fox. I'm not entirely sure if it's just the profanity they're worried about, or maybe the lyrics touching on the aftermath of the war and the corruption within society.
You can download the music video here.
What do you all think—is this censorship justified?
Lyrics:
Like this In our country, we count the years since Dayton People are afraid of people, and everyone votes only for their own side Hillbillies are becoming citizens Just yesterday they were putting out lights with axes, but now they're in wards (country bumpkins) Miles, fix them up, motherfucker If you start selling out, I'll fuck your mother too (you too) You should know, ideology doesn't matter, biology does Genetics matters, you idiots, the extremists and the radicals (that's what matters) Every sheep stays with its flock, cows with their calves Staring through colorful doors while fucking each other's mothers I know who started the war, I know what hunger feels like I know when the fascists arrived in my city (I know) We talk about how things are now—we aren't moving forward much at all We're full of potholes, just like our roads We're constantly pulling the handbrake, you see every blunder We would move forward, but we love going in reverse (damn it, we love it) It's become a habit that not a single factory operates We stay quiet about embezzlement just to avoid upsetting the bosses We've grown used to the handouts, even in times of peace The youth are fleeing the country; refugees won't be coming back They don't have to earn anything, nor send us money We'll live in the dark, fucking each other's mothers (in the ass)
The whole country pays protection money Weapons in people's homes Since the war, you can hear the clinking We have landmines like strawberries filling the fields But those who planted the seedlings won't reap the harvest We couldn't care less We have plenty of resources—metals, cattle, methane That's our air and food, and that's what our leaders feed us with I don't know about you, but I'm full; I can't take any more Everyone in this country is complicit, plugging their ears Before strangers, I hold my tongue Whether it's "hello," "hey," or "how's it going?" I don't know what else to say in this mess without getting caught up in it They whisper lies in your ear and blow the war trumpet They have people with different views in their crosshairs And if they try to straighten their gaze, they'll send a platoon To watch their burning house through binoculars
But there is no war belief that can destroy the foundations That root of the house where our souls reside The brass and the chain that a Canadian throws into the foundation When building a house, he puts part of himself into the base Tear it down to the ground—it won't work The foundation will remain eternal, like the Mississippi River
Justin Patel said:I honestly don't see how they even track whether they're sticking with the same partners or switching things up. Penguins—they all look pretty much identical to me.
Maybe through tagging? 🤔
One case for serial monogamy versus staying with one partner for life is genetic diversity. Plus, given the high egg failure rate—which can hit 80% in some years—it probably makes sense for penguins to seek out the best possible mate every season. Maybe the previous partner wasn't quite capable enough, or perhaps they didn't make it through the winter. In any case, the sheer amount of attention, effort, and time those Emperor Penguins have to pour into ensuring their egg—and eventually the chick—survives the brutal polar climate and predator attacks is massive. I guess that’s likely why so many viewers feel such an emotional connection or even identify with them. And, well, they walk on two legs. 😁
brightridge19 said:forget watching penguins... I'd rather head straight to Istanbul😍 😍
😁
I caught both "Sound of Istanbul" and "Rice" at the recent Sundance Film Festival—they were both quite excellent, I think. 👍
After this young musician from Istanbul performed one of his tracks—it was solo, incredibly fast, and pretty impressive—the crowd over at SC started clapping :klap:
"March of the Penguins" is a pretty blunt American translation of the original title, "The Emperor's March." Back home, they translated it as "Imperial Journey," though "Emperor's Journey" might have been more accurate—just a tiny distinction, I guess. In the French version, the penguins are mostly anthropomorphized; you have actors providing voices for the adult male, the female, and even their chick. In the US version, though, there's just a narrator—specifically, the "Voice of God" Morgan Freeman. Apparently, people in the US are debating whether the film proves a divine plan exists, mainly because the penguins are monogamous and their behavior seems somewhat pro-life.
People on this thread are already mentioning how the morning news ran a headline saying "don't take your kids to see the penguins." The reasoning likely boils down to "brutality" and, to a lesser extent, "sex." There isn't actually any blood in the film, but there are two scenes where predators kill a penguin, one scene involving freezing on the ice, and one scene showing penguin courtship and mating. Honestly, there isn't a time when you could see more animal brutality in any other documentary during the daytime. But, since this is being shown in theaters, all of that suddenly becomes incredibly significant. Or, more realistically, people have just found something new to shout about for a few weeks. I can't help but wonder what kind of lasting scars the simple fact that animals eat other animals—something humans do too—could possibly leave on children.
As for the film itself? It’s beautifully shot; the penguins are lovely and quite engaging. The music can be a bit overly sweet at times, but I suppose it fits the idea of portraying a "penguin love story," much like the emotional performances of the actors—in that regard, Americans missed out on experiencing the original vision of the French filmmakers.
This documentary has earned about a hundred million dollars worldwide, making it the second highest-grossing documentary in theaters, right behind Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11. It's an interesting trend, and I hope it continues. The main reason it's worth seeing this in a theater is the stunning cinematography—the big screen really does it justice.
I don't take any vitamins—I just don't feel like I need them—since I get everything I need from my diet. My blood work comes back perfect and I feel great physically, so I assume I'm not missing anything.
Would you like me to send you the address for a small veggie group where the women are really knowledgeable, or should I ask them about those supplements for you?
Actually, I’d suggest joining the group yourself; people have shared a ton of useful info there regarding restaurants and grocery stores in New York City, recipes, and things like that.😉
madwoman said:I'm glad. I really hope they talked you into it—hopefully you can let them out of the cage now.🙂
The vet mentioned they wouldn't have made it in the wild anyway—I managed to find a male and bought a female. Now they're just flying around in this massive indoor aviary, totally safe from predators.😢
Anyway, getting back to the main point—if you're vegetarian and taking vitamins, have you ever actually wondered where they're sourced from?