Kid Runs Up Farmville Debt in Real Money!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/apr/07/farmville-user-debt-facebook

“A mother has warned of the risk of children spending hundreds of pounds on “free” online games available through Facebook after her 12-year-old son ran up bills of more than £900 without her knowledge.

The woman, who prefers to remain anonymous, discovered last month that her son had spent more than £900 on FarmVille. He had emptied his own savings account of £288 and had used her credit card to the tune of £625 to pay the bills.

FarmVille, one of the most popular games on Facebook, allows members to manage a virtual farm by planting, growing and harvesting crops, trees and livestock. New users are given virtual coins to set up their farm, and the revenue from matured crops can be used to maintain it. But those who are desperate to progress more quickly can buy extra virtual coins using real cash.”

I don’t advocate beating, whippings as disciplinary actions for a child. But, in this case, I would’ve sent the little bugger to a farm to work off his debt.

Punk Dub Connection

A scene from Dub Echoes

Old School Bad Brains Interview featuring Soul Craft Video

Working on a few essays and album reviews. Enjoy in the meantime.

Tribute to Malcom McLaren

I just heard the news about the loss of Malcom McLaren. For those who don’t know, Malcom McLaren was the manager of the Sex Pistols, New York Dolls and one of the guys who were instrumental in the crossover of Punk Rock and Hip-Hop. I can go on much more about his achievements, but I’ll let the music speak for itself.

Funk Rock from Mother’s Finest!

Working on some new articles…

Working on some new articles…and a poll.

Just for DJ Alizay

Here’s a list of popular riddims from over the years.

Bookshelf Riddim
Showtime Riddim
Playground Riddim
Showtime Riddim
Under Mi Sleng Teng
Coolie Dance Riddim
Diwali Riddim
Stalag Riddim
Liquid Riddim
Bug Riddim
Martial Arts Riddim
Buyout Riddim
Buzz Riddim
Rainforest Riddim
Murder She Wrote Riddim
Disturbia Riddim

Sex and Violence Blues

Okay folks, instead of the 50/50 pathos/ethos style of writing, I’m going to focus more on pathos with a few facts. This could venture into the realm of just babbling. But, within this babbling, you can sift out a few nuggets of gold out of this.

On Tuesday March 30th, in the SE area of D.C. there was a retaliation drive by shooting which fatally wounded four of the 10 that were shot. This confrontation started over a dispute of a bracelet. Meanwhile, on the south side of Chicago, six cops wounded after being called in on about a massive shoot out. On April 3rd, songstress Erykah Badu is charged with disorderly conduct over her nudity in the Window Seat video. She’s not facing jail time or anything; just a fine for this.

Here’s my question, out of the three stories, which have you heard more of and which had more outrage expressed over? I mean, think about it, people are expressing outrage over Erykah Badu’s artistic expression because it contained nudity? I mean, we’re upset over nudity? This was tasteful and artistic nudity mind you and not seeing the underlying message of the video. Our “values” are mixed up. We praise graphic violence in our media and exaggerated violence in our entertainment over sexuality and sensuality. I mean, we have FCC hearings over something that’s too sexual, but meanwhile you have graphic images of decaying corpses and charred bodies featured on forensic shows like Bones, NCIS, CSI and no one bats an eye to it and some call it “riveting” television. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind some violence in my entertainment. But, when it comes to it, I see that we focus too much on it and less on sensuality and sexuality.

From what I’ve noticed, we teach our youth that sex is wrong, dirty and impure but we raise these same kids up to fight and go into pointless wars. With those values, we confuse sex with other social ills and insecurities which then just rolls into even more problem. I mean, call me strange, but I’d rather see some exhibitionists having a “hedonistic free for all freak fest” in a park than someone causing terror. Wow, saying that would make me a “pervert.”

But when it comes to it, would you rather have someone be a “pervert” or a murderer instead?

Happy Birthday Gil Scott Heron

This man needs no introduction…all I can say is, Gil in the 70s “conscious” when everyone else was still confused.