Longboarding

There is nothing more exhilarating than cruising down a hill reaching speeds of 15-20mph on a long plank of wood. I'm talking about long boarding. Skating has always been a passion of mine, but long boarding is a whole new take on the skateboard. I remember back in the day, fumbling around with a skateboard, trying to learn tricks and sometimes make them up myself. Skating ramps and grinding curbs and rails is fun, but lacks that essence of freedom and most importantly, speed. Rather than focusing on tricks, long boarding is basically going down a big hill really really fast. It may sound kind of simple, but its a bit more complicated than that. It involves carving down the hill, bending your body in the most aerodynamic shape, and sometimes even sliding around sharp corners. Long boards are built differently too. Obviously, they're longer than a normal skateboard. They are also thicker with wide trucks and bigger wheels for improved stability. The trucks are generally looser so you can carve smoothly down the hill, but not so loose that you get speed wobbles. The last thing you want is to crash face-first into the pavement traveling at speeds rivaling the cars on the same road. Long boarding can be dangerous, but it is fun and I definitely recommend trying it. There is a whole long boarding community and many skate companies make long boards such as Sector 9 shown above. I have a Sector 9 board and I am honestly in love with it. Boards are generally cheap and in my opinion, easier to ride than a normal skate deck. The bottom line is long boarding is pretty crucial. I love it and do it all the time. I think everyone should try it.

Watching vs. Thinking

After looking over Friday's assigned readings, I've come to the conclusion that I could easily agree and disagree with both of the author's opinions. I'm sort of on the fence when it comes to what is appropriate television content and a reasonable amount one should watch TV. Johnson makes a good point that shows that more complex story lines stimulate viewers minds and really make them have to think to put the pieces together. What he calls the "Sleeper Curve," is present in most prime-time dramas as well as other shows. I agree when he says they "enhance our cognitive faculties, not dumb them down." However, Stevens brings up some strong points as well. While this cognitive stimulation may be present, television has always been the most effective venue for advertising, especially to children. Stevens shows this well in the article, referring to children as "fresh meat for the advertising industry." Also, many Americans watch way too much TV. I like how Stevens puts it when she says we should "judge our own doses," as if television itself is some sort of drug. The bottom line is both these authors have pros and cons to their opinions. While some programs are cognitively stimulating, people must make the choice not to fall victim to intense advertising and most importantly, not to spend too much time on the couch.

The Beatles

If there's one band I despise more than any other band, it's The Beatles. I don't know why there is this new Beatles craze, but frankly I find it really irritating. The band is overrated and given credit for much more than their worth. I don't think their music is that "monumental" or "inspiring." Every time I get in this argument with someone, they pull out the same line: "Well if it wasn't for them, there would be none of the bands today. They changed music forever!" Honestly, I don't find this statement very credible. Personally, my favorite genre of music is reggae. Reggae has absolutely no correlation to The Beatles whatsoever. Maybe if it wasn't for Bob Marley or Peter Tosh, there would be no reggae, but The Beatles don't fit into the equation. The fact that they even have their own new "Rock Band" edition based on their music just pisses me off. Wheres "Rock Band Chuck Berry" or "Rock Band Buddy Holly " or I'd even go as far to say "Rock Band Led Zeppelin?" The bottom line is The Beatles are not the founders of rock n' roll. They are simply a side note in a vast history of a very extensive genre. Why they are so famous? I don't know. Why are they suddenly so popular again? I have no idea. Compared to the popular music today, they are outdated and lame. In my mind, The Beatles are exactly what they're name says. Beat.